Centre collégial de développement de matériel didactique

Judge

INTRODUCTION

  • This form is designed to prepare you for the GAME PLAY.
  • Preview the Fund$ Game material before beginning this Script Form.
  • Each Player is expected to complete a Script Form before the GAME PLAY.
  • You are not “in character” while filling out this form.
  • Most of the form should contain your own individual responses (with the obvious exception of the parts where you are establishing the criteria and the forms).
  • Fill in the fields wherever you see the empty bullet symbol :
  • Your teacher may provide more specific instructions on which fields to complete and how.
  • To print the entire content of this script at once, please click on the PRINTER icon on this page.

 

What is your name?

What are the names of your fellow judges?

What is the assigned topic for the game?

Step 1

GET INTO CHARACTER

Take about 15 minutes to search online for information regarding funding agency judges and what they do. Go to the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) website and explore SSHRC merit reviews.

Did you know that...

A research council typically consists of a number of eminent scholars and distinguished experts from industry and government who have been selected by the governing body of a funding agency. At the federal level in Canada, the Ministry of Industry oversees the operations of three federal granting agencies, referred to as the Tri-Council.

The Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is one of these three councils, the others being Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

Combined, their mandate is to support post-secondary scientific inquiry in academia and in the public and private sectors. Council members are selected for their expertise and professionalism and are usually drawn from different sectors of society.

 

Based on your search of SSHRC, provide brief responses to the following questions: 

  1. What is meant by an independent merit review process?
  2. Briefly explain the value of a few of the principles that guide this process.
  3. What are the main qualifications for becoming a SSHRC reviewer (judge)?
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Take another 15 minutes to explore the governance section of the SSHRC website. Look for prospects for a role-play name and title. Discuss the prospects with your fellow judges. Choose a name, professional title and institutional affiliation.

What is your: 

  1. Role-play name?
  2. Professional role-play title? e.g., Dr., Chairperson, Director, Lead researcher…
  3. Institutional affiliation? e.g., a university or research centre…

Assign each judge a specialized council position, such as President, Vice-President, Chairperson, Secretary, or Treasurer.

  1. What is your specialized position on the council?
  2. What are the other positions?
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Step 2

SIGNAL APPROVAL OF CODE OF CONDUCT

Review the Code of Conduct under the Rules and Code of Conduct and respond to the questions below.

Which part of the code of conduct do you think you will have no trouble adhering to?

Which part of the code of conduct do you think you may have some trouble adhering to? Why?

Step 3

KNOW THE DISCIPLINES

Read the Topics and Proposal Abstracts for The FUND$ GAME 

Using the table below, on a scale of 1-10 where 1 represents the lowest level of knowledge and 10 the highest, estimate your level knowledge for each of the disciplines: 

DISCIPLINE COMBINED LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ON 1-10 SCALE, LOW TO HIGH
Anthropology  
Business  
Economics  
Geography  
History  
Philosophy  
Political Science  
Psychology  
Religious Studies  
Sociology  

 

Compare rankings above with your fellow judges. Identify three disciplines about which you, as a team, have deficient knowledge and briefly explain how you intend to redress this.

Which two disciplines do you feel you know the least about?

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Visit the professional association website for these two disciplines. Navigate through each site for a few minutes. Eventually, jot down a few points you have learned about each discipline. (Search “Canadian” or “American” before the discipline name, followed by the word “Association,” such as “Canadian Political Science Association.”)

  1. Which sites did you select?
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  2. What did you discover about them?
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  3. What kinds of research or interests do they appear to promote?
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  4. What reasons or stated goals guide their activities?
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Step 4

BUILD EXPERTISE

Read the Sample Research Proposal on your own and identify three features that you believe should be subjected to scrutiny. In other words, what aspects of the proposal stand out as elements that should be evaluated by you, the judges?

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What is your assigned topic for the FUND$ GAME?

Consult a specialized social science encyclopedia in your college library’s e-book collection, book stacks or database. Search for an entry/article on the assigned topic.

The length of these entries ranges between 1 to 5 pages. Aim for an entry that provides an overview of the research and the disciplines or fields involved. Popular encyclopaedias such as Britannica or Wikipedia are not appropriate as there is no guarantee that the authors are qualified specialists in the field. For instance, The International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences is a 26-volume specialized encyclopedia that is available in most academic libraries. You may require the teacher’s guidance for this item.

Take note of the following:

  1. Title of encyclopedia (publication title)
  2. Editor(s)
  3. Volume number (where applicable)
  4. Page numbers
  5. Title of entry in encyclopedia
  6. Author(s) (usually found at beginning or at end of specific article/entry)
  7. List three elements of the entry that help you to understand the research on the topic:
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  8. Find an excerpt that concisely describes the research on the topic, then copy-paste the quote within the parentheses 

     

     

     


    Page number: 

Step 5

DETERMINE FUNDING CRITERIA

  1. To get ideas on how to establish your own criteria for awarding the grant money, read the Sample Funding Criteria and research granting agencies such as the SSHRC or the National Research Council of Canada (simply go to their websites).

    Based on your research, list at least five ideas for funding criteria that you found relevant:
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  2. Share your individual findings with the other judges. Start establishing your group criteria.
    • Identify three mutually exclusive criteria and list them in the first column of the table below.
    • For the second column, assign a few performance indicator(s) to each criterion (i.e., if comprehensiveness of plan is a criterion, then a suitable performance indicator would be provide detailed, thorough accounts of data gathering and analysis plans). 
FUNDING CRITERIA PERFORMANCE INDICATOR(S)
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Step 6

  1. Finalize the criteria as quickly as you can.
  2. Deliver to all players by the class before the GAME PLAY, at the very latest.
  3. The teacher may ask you to explain the criteria to the other players.

Step 7

PREPARE GAME PLAY MATERIALS

Create score sheets for use during the GAME PLAY.Design them with efficiency in mind. While judging, you will be multi-tasking; actively listening, taking notes, scoring performances, directing presentations. The players will expect the judges to sustain an even, brisk pace. There will be only a minute between presentations to complete your scoring and then, after all the proposals are presented, only 15 minutes to make your funding dispersal decisions. Well-designed score sheets are indispensable.

  • For ideas, review the two Sample Score Sheets.
  • As a team, discuss what you would like to see on your score sheet.
  • Design your own score sheet and put it at the bottom of this page

As a team, determine how you plan to announce the winners and the losers. For fairness and equivalence, it is advisable to tabulate numeric scores using the criteria. Judgment will be required to apportion the $1M. Some teams may receive nothing. In this case, you may consider suggesting that the team address those areas in need of improvement and re-submit for the following round of funding.

  • Not only will you be expected to announce the funding amounts, but you will have to provide reasons. Aim to deliver constructive feedback. Consider dividing responsibility for this among yourselves.
  • The Decision Sheet Template has served students well in the past. Feel free to modify it. It is most effective if visible to all players.

Review the GAME PLAY Agenda & Set Design. As a team, list all the equipment and printed or electronic materials needed for the GAME PLAY. You may want to discuss these plans with the teacher.

  • Use the Checklist below as an organizer. In the first column, place checkmarks beside items you are personally responsible for. In the second column, indicate responsibility by entering “team,” “teacher” or specific team members for the items.
I AM
RESPONSIBLE
FOR THESE ITEMS
OTHERS ARE
RESPONSIBLE
FOR THESE ITEMS
(WHO?)
ITEMS FOR GAME PLAY QUESTIONS

 

  Access to score sheets for judges  

 

  Team name placards  

 

  Funding currency  

 

  Access to GAME PLAY Agenda & Set Design  

 

  Materials/Equipment for reporting information (markers, projector, screen …)  

 

  Judge’s gavel or other such device  

 

  Timer  

Step 8

take charge and render decisions

  • From setting up the room to closing the game play, you are in charge of chairing the game play from start to finish.
  • Ensure you have all the requisite materials with you.
  • Carefully watch the time, follow the agenda and abide by the Code of Conduct.

Step 9

Write reflection

Step 10

SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT MATERIAL

  • Complete the required post-game work and submit as per teacher instructions.

Judge Sample Materials

 Sample Funding Criteria

CRITERIA PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. Well-organized & prepared
  • Presented in an orderly, thoughtful way
  • Consistently followed through on key elements
  • Appeared confident they knew what they were talking about
2. Positive repercussions on society
  • Recognizable account of projected value of the research
  • Convincing justification for social impact
3. Cost-effectiveness
  • Evidence they factored reduced costs into the design
  • Careful detailing of costs in budget
  • Demonstrated strong management skills and abilities

 

Sample Score Sheets 

EVALUATION GRID

Discipline: _________________

CRITERIA 1-3 4-7 8-10 SCORE
1. Sound, Logical 
Proposal
Proposal is vague and unclear; lacks grounding in research field; limited reference to scientific terms or data gathering or sampling plan; may not be ethical (probably too vague to determine). Proposal makes some sense and is fairly logical in sequence; some connection to existing research in the discipline; weak/limited choice of methods for gathering data, selecting sample and analyzing data; limited use of scientific terminology; could be ethical. Proposal is very clear and makes lots of sense; grounded in existing research in the discipline; excellent choice of methods for gathering data, selecting sample and analyzing data; sophisticated use of scientific terminology; ethically sound.  
2. High Impact 
Potential
Little to no evidence provided of the value of investing in this research; unclear or vague path to impact in the field. Some support for research leading to breakthroughs; evidence of some potential for making improvements; some justification for investing in this research project. Convincing case for research leading to major breakthroughs; demonstrated potential for research to contribute to improvements; justified value of investing in this research project.  
3. Professionalism Researchers lacked professionalism in some ways: 
Weak team work, disorganized presentation, potentially unethical plans or work processes, lack of accountability for monies and materials required.
Researchers demonstrated some professionalism: worked together, presented in an organized fashion, adhered to ethical rules of conduct, costed and planned work with some degree of accountability. Researchers demonstrated professionalism: worked well together presented in a highly organized fashion, adhered to ethical rules of conduct, costed and planned work in a detailed and accountable manner.  
TOTAL
SCORE
Comments

 

TALLY SHEET

DISCIPLINE CRITERION 1
1-10
CRITERION 2
1-10
CRITERION 3
1-10
SCORE
1. Anthropology        
2. Business        
3. Economics        
4. Geography        
5. History        
6. Philosophy        
7. Political Science        
8. Psychology        
9. Religious Studies        
10. Sociology        

 

Decision Sheet Template

To show funding distribution choices of Judges and General Public. $1,000,000 in research funds to be distributed

SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES RESEARCH COUNCIL $ GRANTS GENERAL PUBLIC $ GRANT OPINION
Anthropology    
Business    
Economics    
Geography    
History/Classics    
Philosophy    
Political Science    
Psychology    
Religious Studies    
Sociology    

 

GAME PLAY Agenda and Set Design

The judges are in charge of chairing the GAME PLAY. This is the recommended agenda. The total time for the in-class competition is 2-2.5 hours.

AGENDA

STEP WHAT THE JUDGES NEED TO DO TIME IN MINUTES
  Set-up
  • Arrange seating & materials (i.e., team name placards)
  • Install equipment if/where necessary (i.e., online stopwatch or projection of criteria or other such information)
  • Give everyone some time to organize their materials
~15-20
1. Welcome
  • Call the funding competition meeting to order
  • Greet everyone and thank them for attending
  • Briefly review agenda & time frame
  • Explain protocol (presentation order & placement, speaking time regulations, break…)
~5
2. General Public Speech
  • Invite the general public to make a 2-3 minute speech
  • Thank the general public once complete
~5
3. Discipline Group Presentations
  • Invite and thank each group in turn (keep momentum going)
  • Allow ~5 minutes per presentation
~60
4. Judges’ Deliberations
  • Call a 15-minute break for everyone except yourselves
  • Determine allocation of funding
  • Ask everyone to leave the room for the designated time for privacy and quiet
~15
5. Announcement of Funding Winners
  • Present your funding decisions
  • Justify your funding allocation decisions
~10
6. Question & Answer Period
  • Hold a Q & A period
  • Specifically call on Journalists and General Public to pose some questions
~10
7. Adjourn
  • Ask for motion to adjourn the meeting
  • Thank everyone
 

 

Set design: Configure classroom seating by role grouping:

  • Set up equipment and place materials such as placards, score sheets, gavel, timer …
  • Provide sufficient space for discipline teams to present and move as per your requirements.
  • The teacher has templates for name placards and funding currency.
  • A gavel may be hard to come by, so be inventive and bring an improvised device, hopefully nothing that will damage furniture or promote hearing loss.

 

CLASSROOM CONFIGURATION MAP

Classroom Configuration Map