Journal article
Chemistry as a discipline of practice: Rubrics to assess and provide feedback on the practice of scientific investigation
Chemistry education research and practice
09/03/2026
DOI: 10.1039/D6RP00109B
Abstract
Scientific investigation is a core competency in undergraduate chemistry programs, yet instructors often do not explicitly assess students’ engagement with the full range of investigative practices in laboratory courses. Students are more likely to develop these skills when there are opportunities to engage with these practices and when assessments provide constructive feedback for improvement. Rubrics assessing investigative practices can help achieve this by creating a shared understanding of the practices between instructors and students. It also enables instructors to reflect on their teaching and make necessary changes to increase alignment between instruction and learning objectives. Here, we present rubrics designed to assess multiple dimensions of scientific investigation, such as generating investigable questions, planning and carrying out investigations, and applying mathematical and computational thinking, within undergraduate chemistry laboratories. Instructors and graduate teaching assistants who used these rubrics in their laboratory courses reported that they were useful for assessing student performance and generally viewed the resulting scores as reflective of students’ proficiency with the targeted science practices. These rubrics offer a resource for instructors to better align assessment with learning objectives and to intentionally design laboratory experiences that foster comprehensive engagement with scientific investigation.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Chemistry as a discipline of practice: Rubrics to assess and provide feedback on the practice of scientific investigation
- Creators
- Vinay Bapu Ramesh - University of IowaArdith Bhinu - University of IowaAbdul Quraishi - University of IowaRenee Cole - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Chemistry education research and practice
- DOI
- 10.1039/D6RP00109B
- ISSN
- 1756-1108
- eISSN
- 1756-1108
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 09/03/2026
- Academic Unit
- Surgery; Chemistry
- Record Identifier
- 9985224439902771
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