Multidisciplinary Capstone Senior Design Projects: A Comparative Analysis of Industry_–Sponsored and Faculty_–Sponsored Projects Using Comprehensive Performance Metrics

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is a very useful study and the results are clearly presented. I would like to suggest that you do some statistical tests of means between industry and faculty projects. Many of your results look statistically insignificant to me. There is a small number that may be statistically significant. These are worth emphasising and would strengthen your conclusions. 

In a second stage, interviews with students would also add rich data to this story but, perhaps, that's another paper.

Well done!

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I have marked up some small suggestions on the manuscript.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article is very clearly articulated. Each point smoothly transitions from one to the next. Quantitative data is accurately expressed and explained. There are no issues with the paper as written. 

However, given the nature of the call for PBL STEM, there seems to be a lack of focus on Project-Based Learning (PBL). There is a distinct difference betwen "Projects" and PBL. What scholarship helps identify these capstone projects as PBL? In the call for this Special Article, several PBL themes have been identified. What theme is this specifically addressing? 

I believe with a stronger link to PBL, this paper may provide significant contribution to the PBL STEM community. As is, the PBL connection is weak, if not lacking. Therefore, I would need to see a major revision to the introduction and conclusion, linking PBL practices, in order to be considered for publication for this specific call. 

Author Response

Please take a look at the attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Contextualization: It might be helpful to outline the the research related to the differences in faculty sponsored versus industry sponsored project. 

Research Design: What specific research questions were you trying to address?

Finding: How did you go from standard deviations above/below the mean to percentages?  How was the self and peer-evaluation forms validated? When you make the claim that 0.27% is marginally more effective, did you conduct a statistically significant test?

Discussion and Conclusion: How do your findings relate to the literature review and next steps? What are the next steps for integrating both faculty and industry sponsored projects. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Be sure that each acronym is spelled out in the narrative.  

Author Response

Please take a look at the attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I am happy with the authors' additions to the paper, which have strengthened the analysis and recommendations.

Author Response

Thank you for providing your comments. We value your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to share it with us.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors added information about PBL and its connection to the study. 

Author Response

Thank you for providing your comments. We value your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to share it with us.