Rubric: MSc Literature Review

Learning Objectives
1. Knowledge, insight, and academic skills
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Search the literature systematically;
- Formulate a research question;
- Select representative scientific sources from several (for example, economic, ethical, environmental,
medical, social, health) ‘perspectives’ relevant to the assignment;
- Draw conclusions related to the research problem and give recommendations towards new research
opportunities;
- Write a literature review in academic English.

2. Transferable skills & interpersonal skills

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

- Demonstrate a scientific attitude;

- Manage your own learning process (including time management).

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 Rubric: MSc Literature Review Student name: Student number: Date: Course code:
Excellent
Levels Good Satisfactory Poor Insufficient
(10-9) Comments and feedback
Criteria (8) (7-6) (5) (4-1)

Title and Abstract The title indicates the subject and the The title indicates the subject of the The title does not cover the subject of
scope of the study accurately. The study sufficiently. The abstract is a brief the study sufficiently. The abstract
abstract is a brief and accurate and accurate overview of findings. does not provide a brief and accurate
overview of findings and contains a overview of findings and the
clear conclusion. description lacks coherence.

Introduction/background The introduction offers a strong, clear, The introduction offers a concise and The introduction offers a limited
information and thorough, yet concise, overview of correct overview of the research selection of relevant literature and the
the research problem leading to a problem leading to a specific, clear, and research problem misses focus.
specific, clear, and answerable research answerable research question.
question. The research question is unclear/
It describes the scientific and social unanswerable/ missing.
It describes the scientific and social relevance.
relevance, and adds a substantial new
Content of written report (60%)

perspective or insight to the field. The relevance is described from several

perspectives (for example, economic,
The relevance is described from several ethical, environmental, social, health,
perspectives (for example, economic, perspectives) and technological
ethical, environmental, social, medical, developments, but misses some
health perspectives) and technological essential perspectives/developments.
developments.

Literature retrieval The report includes all relevant parts of The report covers relevant parts of the The report covers some relevant parts
the research field, has excellent focus, research field. The review is based on a but also lacks main themes. The
and is up to date. The review is based documented search strategy in scientific review is not based on a documented
on a thorough, well-documented search papers, book chapters, theses, or search.
strategy in scientific papers, book patents.
chapters, theses, or patents.

Body/literature synthesis The body/literature synthesis is a The body/ literature synthesis is a The display of the literature is
critical and in-depth1 evaluation of the sufficiently critical evaluation of the incomplete. A critical synthesis of
literature. The interpretation of literature. information is lacking, and mistakes
literature is convincing. are present.

Discussion/conclusions & The discussion is a critical and in-depth The discussion reflects the findings and In the discussion, connections with
recommendations reflection on the findings and corresponds with the research question. findings from the literature synthesis
corresponds with the research The results are discussed in the light of are hardly made and a link to the
question. The results are discussed in the research problem. research question is not established.
the light of the research problem.
New insights, new models, and Recommendations are absent or
New insights, new models, and hypotheses are discussed. trivial.
hypotheses are discussed in depth.

1 The body/ literature synthesis shows integration of a variety of sources (for example, diversity in research methods, domain knowledge, time period).
 Recommendations are to-the-point and Recommendations are well-linked to the
well-linked to the findings. findings.

Research plan2 When required, the formulated When required, the formulated research When required, the formulated
research plan follows logically and plan follows from the given conclusions research plan does not follow logically
consistently from the given conclusions and recommendations. from the given conclusions and
and recommendations. recommendations.

Structure and line of reasoning The line of reasoning is easy to follow The line of reasoning is mostly clear. The The line of reasoning is unclear and
and supported by the structure and structure supports the legibility of the the paper is badly structured.
follows the generic literature review text and follows the generic literature
structure. review structure.

Citations and reference list The citations in the text are in the right The citations in the text are absent or
place and are used consistently and inconsistent or incorrectly cited.
Structure and Style (20%)

correctly throughout the review.

An academic format for citations and
Citations in the text and reference list the reference list has not been used.
are properly formatted in an academic
format (for example, APA style/ IEEE/
Vancouver).

Use of academic language The report is written in American The report is written in American English The text or parts are not readable or
English or British English. or British English. understandable.
The use of language is scientific, The text is readable and Several language errors, spelling
nuanced, logical, and clear. understandable. mistakes/grammatical errors are
made.
Hardly any/ small language errors, No major language errors, spelling
spelling mistakes/grammatical errors mistakes/grammatical errors are made.
are made.

The student critically reflects on

Scientific attitude The student actively raises critical The student is not able to be critical
transferable skills (20%)

questions and integrates suggestions,

questions and suggestions and and reflective and relies on
Interpersonal and

ideas and solutions of the supervisor.

integrates suggestions, ideas and supervisor’s instructions only.
solutions of the supervisor.

The final version of the report is

Time management submitted within the planned period. The final version of the report is
overdue.

Name supervisor Signature supervisor Final grade

2 This criterion applies only if a research plan is required.

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