Gumberg Library Award for Undergraduate Research

Gumberg Library Award for Undergraduate Research

Introduction

The Gumberg Library Award for Undergraduate Research recognizes outstanding research projects in any field of study that incorporate significant use of library expertise, resources, collections, and/or services. Thanks to the generous financial support of donors, the award will include a $300 cash prize.

Eligibility

Posters accepted for Duquesne University’s Undergraduate Student Research and Scholarship Symposium (URSS) will be considered for the Gumberg Library Award for Undergraduate Research.

Students can request a consultation and find more information about Gumberg Library’s URSS research support at: http://guides.library.duq.edu/urss

Evaluation Criteria

A committee of library faculty and administrators will judge relevant posters based on research questions and inquiry methods, effective use of appropriate literature and data to support conclusions, and innovative or creative contribution to the field of study. Emphasis will be placed on sound research methodology and demonstrated use of Gumberg Library’s resources. Posters will also be evaluated on design, clarity, organization, and successful communication of ideas to those unfamiliar with the field.

Scoring Rubric:

Extensive and/or creative use of Gumberg Library’s resources that may include:

·  Manuscripts, archival or special collections

·  Databases and other electronic collections

·  Printed resources

·  Library services

[40% of score]

Effective application of principles of research:

·  Effective use of research method(s) appropriate to the question/hypothesis

·  Substantive use of existing research to support the project

·  Clearly documented sources cited according to the conventions of the discipline

[35% of score]

Effective communication of research/scholarship:

·  Clear explanation of research hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions

·  Clear explanation of the project’s contribution to the field of study or to society

·  Effective use of poster medium and organization of project material

[25% of score]

Award Notification

The Gumberg Library Award for Undergraduate Research will be announced at the end of the URSS.

Award winning posters will be made available publicly available through Digital Commons, Duquesne’s Institutional Repository.