This form is intended to provide a common set of criteria for the assessment of Ph.D. dissertation and their defense. The committee chair must complete this form on behalf of the committee after the exam. 
Please rate each attribute on the following scale: Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, with Excellent defined as the expected proficiency of a Post-Doctoral Scholar, and Poor defined as the expected proficiency of some one who who has not gained any skills beyond a Bachelor's degree recipient. 
Introduction 
Identifies an original and meaningful research question.
 
 
Hypotheses or approaches presented are tightly aligned to the research questions . 
 
 
Provides a comprehensive, accurate literature review and places research work in proper context.  
 
 
The literature review demonstrates the ability to discriminate between the most important/informative papers and less important/informative ones. 
 
 
The literature review demonstrates the ability to synthesize literature and identify gaps in current knowledge. 
 
 
The introduction is written in a manner accessible to both specialists and non-specialists in the field.
 
 
Methods
The methods selected are appropriate to the research question.
 
 
Novel methods are developed or previously described methods are refined and improved.
 
 
Methods are described in sufficient detail that others could reproduce experiments or computational methods.
 
 
Methodological challenges are recognized and workable solutions or alternative approaches are proposed. 
 
 
Results & Analysis 
The data obtained are adequate in quantity and nature to address the research question. 
 
 
Data are thoughtfully and carefully analyzed in an objective manner. 
 
 
Figures and tables present results in an easily interpretable fashion. 
 
 
Discussion/Conclusions
Conclusions drawn are adequately supported by the data.
 
 
Discussion connects the results to issues in the literature and conveys the significance of the finding to the field of study. 
 
 
Strengths and weaknesses in the work are discussed. 
 
 
Practical and worthwhile future directions are identified. 
 
 
Mechanics
Any errors in spelling or grammar are sufficiently minor that they do not affect comprehensibility. 
 
 
Literature citations in the text and bibliography are accurate.
 
 
Organization and design of presentation slides, coupled with oral explanations, effectively and professionally communicates material to the audience. 
 
 
Professionalism 
Dissertation work is conducted and presented in a responsible and ethical manner. 
 
 
Dissertation presents new knowledge that makes a meaningful contribution to the relevant field.  
 
 
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