WorldCUR-BCUR - Abstract Assessment Rubric*

WorldCUR-BCUR 2023 will use a two-stage assessment process to determine who will be invited to present at each conference. Submissions will be considered by both quality of abstract & widening participation criteria.

We use the Assessment Rubric* below, and its Key Criteria, to decide on the outcome of your submission. We assess your abstract on how successfully it responds to each of the questions: Why? What? So What? Now What?

We also assess its general style and presentation, and whether it is sufficiently accessible to an interdisciplinary and international audience. The three possible outcomes are ‘Accepted’, ‘Revise and Resubmit’ and ‘Rejected’.

You will receive an outcome of ‘Accepted’ if they quality of your abstract is sound and meets widening participation criteria.

You will receive an outcome of ‘Revise and Resubmit’ if your submission would be strengthened by some alteration or improvement. This could be reworking area(s) of your abstract to develop their quality, or reframing your presentation under a different theme or form of presentation to expand diversity.

You will only receive an outcome of ‘Rejected’ in the first instance if you are deemed ineligible for the conference.

Key Criteria	Excellent	Strong	Satisfactory	Weak	Needs Improvement
The introduction to the abstract provides a clear rationale for why this project has been undertaken and why it matters. It might contain: – Context: Provides context for the research, citing appropriate academic literature and locating the research within a particular field. – Rationale: Identifies a research problem or gap in knowledge or literature. – Research Question/s: Outlines one or more research questions.
This section of the abstract clearly explains what research has been done, how it was done, and what was discovered. It might contain: – Methodology: Describes a suitable theoretical framework for the research. – Methods: Describes data or materials evaluated, and explains the method of analysis, including any required tools. – Findings: Outlines the findings, or results, of the research.
This part of the abstract considers the question So What? What do the findings mean, and why do they matter? It might contain: – Statement of Significance: Describes a (potential) contribution to a particular field or society at large. – Research Questions: Relates findings to the key research question/s.
The concluding section of the abstract considers the question Now What? It might contain: – Future Implications: Restates the relevance of the research, suggests new lines of research enquiry, and/or proposes novel applications of the research findings. – Possible Translations: States potential next steps in regard to translating the research into practice (for example, informing practitioners or a startup venture).
Style and Presentation – The abstract should be well-written and well-presented, in English, and with sufficient attention paid to grammar and punctuation. – It should not exceed 250 words. – The title should accurately reflect the project and contain key words. – The abstract must be accessible to an interdisciplinary and international audience, with minimal use of subject-specific jargon and careful choice of vocabulary.

Widening Participation	Meets criteria	Not applicable
Diversity of Voice Applicant studies in an underrepresented country or geographical area. Or, Research area is an underrepresented discipline aligned to the particular WorldCUR-BCUR 2023 Theme.
Diversity of Idea Research presents a unique or original perspective. Or, Research is from an underrepresented area, discipline, or WorldCUR-BCUR 2023 Theme.
Diversity of Form of Presentation Research is presented in a creative, innovative, or original format. Or, Mode of presentation is underrepresented form.

Accepted

An impressive abstract that successfully communicates clear responses to four key questions: Why? What? So What? Now What? The abstract provides clear statements of the research context, the research methodology/methods, the research findings and the potential impact of the research. It is clearly written and presented, and suitable for an interdisciplinary and international audience (or British audience – BCUR only).

AND submission meets widen participation criteria.

Revise & Resubmit

A promising abstract that, in part, communicates the answers to four key questions: Why? What? So What? Now What? The abstract may need to provide clearer statements of the research context, the research methodology/methods, the research findings and the potential impact of the research. It may also require revisions to improve the quality of writing, general presentation, and accessibility to an interdisciplinary and international audience.

AND/OR submission needs reframing or presented through an alternative format to meet widen participation criteria.

Rejected

An abstract that, on this occasion, has not communicated sufficient responses to four key questions: Why? What? So What? Now What? It may lack clear statements of the research context, the research methodology/methods, the research findings and the potential impact of the research. The quality of writing, general presentation, and accessibility to an interdisciplinary and international audience may also be below the standard required.

OR submission is from overrepresented voice, idea, and form of presentation.

Alternatively, the student may not be eligible to take part in WorldCUR-BCUR 2023.

*WorldCUR-BCUR 2023 Abstract Review is based on The University of Warwick's International Conference of Undergraduate Research (ICUR) Abstract Review System.