Pennsylvania
Future Problem Solving Program

STEP 4 - GENERATE and SELECT CRITERIA

Generate ideas/criteria that serve as yardsticks to determine the creative potential and importance of solution ideas. Generate and select criteria which will measure the comparative quality (relevance and/or validity) of solution ideas.

STEP 4 – Essentials of Writing Criteria

1.      Address only one concern/dimension with each criterion.

1. Consider what you are measuring? (Cost, acceptance, etc.)
2. Avoid the use of "and" in a criterion.

2.      In writing your criteria, use superlatives, “st” words (e.g. least, most, greatest, fewest, etc.).

1. Which solution idea is the easiest to implement?
2. Which solution idea provides the greatest social benefit?

3.      Phrase your criteria to indicate a desired direction.

1. In other words, ask, Which solution idea is the easiest to implement? instead of, Which solution idea is the hardest to implement?
2. Ask, Which solution idea provides the greatest social benefit? instead of, Which solution idea provides the greatest social harm?

Note: In an effort to better evaluate Step 4 Applicability and Relevance, stock and target criteria have been changed to the terms below. Please see 2007-08 Guidelines for Evaluation for more information and examples.

CRITERIA EVALUATION

Adopted June 2007

It turns out that criteria may be much more complex than some of us thought!  Many also feel that criteria are much more important than sometimes perceived, and are especially applicable to real life situations. Criteria can be used to lead us to the ideal best solution, or they can lead us to a solution that is practical to implement. The information here is a start to help us understand criteria more thoroughly.

GLOSSARY

Quite a few terms have been used to describe criteria, sometimes with completely different meanings depending on who is using the term.  Here is a list of the terms and definitions we will be using for international evaluation.

A) Relevance

• RELEVANT:  A criterion that is appropriate for evaluating solutions to this underlying problem.
• NOT RELEVANT:  A criterion that is not appropriate for evaluating solutions to this underlying problem.

B) Types of Criteria:

• UP-BASED: KVP or UP-BASED: PURPOSE:  A criterion that is based on the ideas from the underlying problem, either from the key verb phrase or from the purpose.
• GENERIC:  A criterion whose core idea can be applied to nearly every solution to nearly every underlying problem for nearly every topic. A generic criterion does NOT become specific by adding future scene information to it.
• SPECIFIC:  A criterion whose core idea can only be applied more narrowly, to this underlying problem and/or for this topic, or for other closely related topics, but not to a wide variety of areas. It may be based on the research for a topic. A specific criterion does NOT need to have future scene information in it. However, sometimes it is hard to tell if a criterion is generic or specific without modifying information.

D)   “Flavors” for generic and specific types:

• PLAIN:  A criterion with no details or information coming directly from the future scene.
• MODIFIED:  A criterion with adequate details, such as important stakeholders, to place it firmly within this underlying problem and/or future scene. Parameters alone (time, place, topic) are not enough for modification. Try to avoid adding a complete KVP or purpose as a modification.
• JUSTIFIED:  A criterion that gives a condition from the future scene as a rationale for its use. The justification must have a logical connection to the criterion.

**International Terms:  As shortcuts, the terms generic, modified, and advanced will be used to designate 1, 2, or 3 points.  There are multiple ways to earn 3 points, all part of the “advanced” group of criteria.  Note that ALL specific criteria receive 3 points, but generic criteria must be “justified” in order to receive 3 points.  If a justification does not come directly from the future scene or have a logical connection to the criterion, the justification is ignored and the criterion is scored on its own.