Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Chapter 16: Research Proposals - Coggle Diagram
Chapter 16: Research Proposals
Before composing - research a funder's priorities
Establish connection between project goals and agency's interests
Briefly but thoroughly present the need or problem , proposed solution, & your organizations qualifications for implementing that solution
Components & format
If you have instructions for your proposal, follow them EXACTLY
Many funders have their own ideas on how they like proposals structured
Include:
Abstract
Specific aims
Background, including statement of need
Research design
Significance/Impact
Answer:
Why this project?
Why you?
Why at your institution?
Why this sponsor?
Why now?
Abstract
Concise but include all main points
Background
Unknown problem/statement
Overall objective of proposal
General strategy
Significance/Impact
Summarize proposal by articulating highlights from each section in a single paragraph
Should be able to stand on its own without a detailed narrative - concise, informative, & complete
Pay attention to the first & last sentence
Put a lot of effort into the first sentence:
Start with a key term
Keep sentence short
Introduce topic of proposal
Last sentence:
Highlight importance of proposal to society
Contain significance/impact statement
Include statement of need to convince reader's of importance
Clearly identify the overall objective so reader may understand your goal for the proposed work
Most important element of proposal
Should follow logically from the statement of need or the problem
Make it immediately identifiable by placing it in bold, italic, or labeling it
Can be subdivided into specific aims which are the two to five steps needed to achieve your objective in the time frame of the proposal (usually 2-5 years)
Specific aims
List in precise language
May be a section on its own or combined with the abstract
Serves as an orientation for the rest of the proposal
Provides detailed approach to your overall goal laid out in two to five concrete steps
Should be written in a list & not paragraph form
Each aim may be followed by a brief paragraph description of the proposed approach
Summarizes:
Preliminary results or rationale
Hypothesis (set in italics)
Approach for each item
Expected outcomes for specific aim
Placed in bold to highlight them
Background/Introduction
Provide Context & preliminary results for each aim
Follow the abstract/overview paragraph with background info that may include preliminary results
Describes current state-of-the-art, or what is presently known about the topic
Can be written as one section or split into two subsections (largely based on aims)
Has to convince readers that once achieved, specific aims will have significant impact on the topic
DO NOT just sate you aim to gain scientific knowledge in your field. Tie the proposal into some broader scientific or clinical picture
Arrange in standard structure:
Within subsections:
Background/known
Unknown/problem/need
Aim/hypothesis (optional)
Summary (optional)
Research Design
Describe the approach for each specific aim in detail
Also referred to as the experimental approach, methodology, or strategy
Typically the longest section of proposal & will receive the most scrutiny during review
Should lay out a sound & attainable approach to address the problem or need
Clearly depict how you arrived at your findings, what you expect to add to the topic, experimental approaches, the expected outcomes, potential alternate approaches, & implications your project will have
Organize section into subsections according to specific aims
Give subsections the same title as those for the specific aims
Heading:
Specific aim/objective
-Rationale/hypothesis (not always required)
Experimental design
Analysis
Expected results (outcomes & significance)
Alternative strategies (not always required)
Impact & significance
End the proposal with a broad impact statement
Focus on how human beings will benefit rather than on your own personal goals
May also mention evaluation plans such as measurable objectives
In last paragraph of proposal
Additional proposal components
Budget: a detailed breakdown of the financial support requested from the sponsoring agency
Costs should be realistic & justified
Provide a budget table for the use of funds towards materials, equipment, personnel, travel, facilities & publication costs
Include total costs
Business office typically assists in putting a budget together to ensure all costs are realistic & justified
List expenses required to successfully perform the proposed research