Research Symposium

MSSU Student Research Symposium

This year the MSSU Student Research Symposium is returning to a public, in-person event. Students will present their research and poster in-person to judges on the day of the symposium.

The MSSU Student Research Symposium is open to students from all disciplines, including Master’s and Dual Credit students, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their research beyond the classroom setting. All MSSU students involved in research are encouraged to apply, and those not yet involved in research will learn about the many research opportunities available at Missouri Southern.

All students who are involved in faculty-guided research and creative activity—whether conducted as part of a class, internship, or program—are eligible to participate in the symposium, and they are encouraged to submit an abstract. Students may compete in six categories:

Humanities
Business, Engineering, and Technology
Social Sciences
Physical and Biological Sciences
Health Sciences
Education

It is the responsibility of the student and his/her faculty sponsor to properly classify the project and to select the category in which the student wants to compete. **ALL final entries must be in the form of a poster.**

Entries can include current or past work completed in the classroom. Entries might include business plans, literature reviews, stories, music, artwork, theatre demonstrations, or poetry, as well as technology, science projects, theory developed using mathematical tools, surveys, or data analyzed using statistical techniques. As a reminder, all final entries must be in the form of a poster.

Students will create a poster to present in-person in which they share their work with faculty, staff, fellow students, and community members.

There is no cost to attend or participate in the Student Research Symposium. The event is open to all students, staff, faculty, and community members.

First and second-place winners will be awarded in each of the six categories. Winners will receive an Amazon gift certificate in the amount of $100.00 for first place and $50.00 for second place. There will also be a top prize of $100.00 for best overall poster.

Please note the submission deadline for abstracts is Wednesday, March 13 by 5:00p.m. Submitted abstracts should describe the student’s research within the specified word limit. Students interested in submitting an abstract should know this is a professional conference.

You will be notified by Wednesday, March 27 as to whether or not your abstract has been accepted for inclusion in the Student Research Symposium.

For more information please contact Dr. Betsy Adelizzi Adelizzi-b@mssu.edu or Dr. Brian Neugebauer, Neugebauer-b@mssu.edu.

Please evaluate the student's INTRODUCTION based on the following criteria:
- Poor (1-3 points): The topic is unclear and the introduction does not orient the reader as to how the rest of the paper will follow. There is no mention of the research question or literature. There is no theoretical framework and the student does not incorporate secondary sources.
- Acceptable (4-6 points): Shows some organization, but is not clear on how the rest of the paper will follow. The research question is confusing and ambiguous. Does not elaborate on prior studies or literature related to the research question.
- Good (7-9 points): The research question is defined. Goals and objectives are stated. The student mentions the literature, but does not go into specifics regarding a gap in the literature/field.
- Outstanding (10 points): Presents a clearly articulated research question that directly addresses the specific questions the student will answer, as well as addresses a gap in the literature/field. Goals and objectives are explained and the student presents them within a theoretical framework that includes secondary sources.

Please evaluate the student's METHODOLOGY based on the following criteria:
- Poor (1-3 points): Is not explained in a logical, cohesive manner. The student mentions some connections with the research topic, but they are not applied well. There is little understanding of how or why certain steps and processes were initiated.
- Acceptable (4-6 points): Is confusing and unclear, especially with how it relates to the research topic. The student’s reasoning is simplistic or not explained well. There is not a clear understanding of the process involved and how or why one step proceeds to the next.
- Good (7-9 points): Is clear and logical. The student discusses how the data was collected, measured, and administered. There is a clear relationship between methodology and research topic.
- Outstanding (10 points): Is appropriate to the discipline and is explained clearly and documented in detail. Addresses the research question and possible biases are identified. Is so well-defined that the study could be replicated based on the speaker’s explanation.

Please evaluate the student's RESULTS/DISCUSSION based on the following criteria:
- Poor (1-3 points): The findings are confusing and unclear, and it is not understood how they relate to the research topic. The conclusions do not demonstrate any independent or original thought.
- Acceptable (4-6 points): States the findings, but does not explain them in any detail or mention any implications as they relate to the topic. There is no mention of possible applications for future studies.
- Good (7-9 points): Explains the findings, but does not go into detail regarding the implications as they relate to the topic or any possible applications for future studies.
- Outstanding (10 points): Explains in specific detail the findings and the range of implications as they relate to the topic. The student addresses any obstacles, as well as possible applications of said results for future studies. The conclusions demonstrate independent and original thought.

Please evaluate the student's POSTER PRESENTATION based on the following criteria:
- Poor (1-3 points): Poster is not visually appealing. The poster is cluttered and the use of colors and font impair readability. The visuals do not enhance the text. The content arrangement is extremely confusing. Errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar repeatedly distract the viewer. Speaks too softly or loudly.
- Acceptable (4-6 points): Poster’s visual appeal is adequate; is cluttered and some colors and font sizes distract from the readability; displays visuals that adequately enhance the text; and the content arrangement is somewhat confusing. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors distract or impair readability. The speaker speaks in a monotone voice. The use of filler words (um, like, well…) is distracting.
- Good (7-9 points): Poster is not cluttered and includes colors and fonts that support readability; displays visuals that enhance the text and are arranged so the viewer can understand their order without narration; is clearly written with little or no editing required for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Speaker speaks faster or slower than necessary, or too quietly.
- Outstanding (10 points): Poster is not cluttered and includes colors and fonts that enhance readability; displays clear tables, graphs, or images that engage the viewer and are arranged so the viewer can understand their order without narration; is written with no errors in grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Is confident, clear, engaging, and organized. Speaks at a good rate and volume.

Research Symposium

Judge's Rubric

Poster Template

Research Symposium Timeline

Research Symposium Timeline