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Ch.17: Research Proposals - Coggle Diagram
Ch.17: Research Proposals
17.1 and 17.2: Overview, Format, and Components
Before composing a proposal: Proposal must establish a connection between your project's goals and agency's interest
If you have instructions: Follow them exactly! Funders have a general idea of how they like proposals structured. Proposal should answer the questions...
Why at your institution?
Why this sponsor?
Why you?
Why now?
Why this project?
Include the sections
Background, Statement of Need
Research Design
Specific Aims
Significance / Impact
Abstract
17.3, 17.4, and 17.5: Abstract, Specific Aims, and Background
Abstract
Write a concise abstract that includes all the main points of the proposal: Background, unknown / problem / statement of need, overall objective, general strategy, significance / impact
Pay attention to the 1st and last sentence: 1st sentence provides the first impression and should introduce the topic. The last one should highlight why the proposal is imporant
Include a statement of need: Readers need to know why the proposal is important
Clearly identify overall objective: Readers can understand the goal of the work, should follow from the statement of need
Specific Aim
List the specific aims in precise language
May be separate section or combined with the Abstract
Provides an orientation for the rest of the proposal and the detailed approach to your overall goal in 2-5 steps
Should be written as a list, placed in bold and highlighted
Each aim may be followed by a brief description of the proposed approach: Summarizes preliminary results, hypothesis (italics), approach, and expected outcome
Background
Provide context and preliminary results for each aim
Provides context for the readers by describing the current state-of-the-art, or what is presently known
Can be written as one section or split into subsections
Has to convince readers that specific aims, once achieved, will have significant impact on the topic
Structure
Within subsections
Unknown / problem / need
Aim / hypothesis (optional)
Background / known
Summary (optional)
17.6, 17.7, and 17.8: Design, Impact, Significance, and Additional Components
Research Design
Describe the approach for each specific aim in detail
Main function is to propose in detail what approach you will take to address each of your specific aims over the course of the proposed project
Elucidate how you have arrived at the preliminary findings
Expectations to add to the topic
Specific experimental approaches
Expected outcomes of experiments
Potential alternate approaches
Implications of project
Organize the section according to specific aims
Heading: Specific aim / objective
Analysis
Expected results (outcomes and significance)
Experimental design
Alt. strategies (not always required)
Rationale / Hypothesis (not always required)
Impact and Significance
End the proposal with a broad impact statement
In the last paragraph of the proposal: State the impact and significance of the project. Focus on how humans will benefit
May also mention evaluation plans
Additional Components
May be asked to include additional information: curricula vitae and transcripts to reference letters, certifications regarding conflicts of interest, conduct of ethical research, animal experimentation, guarantees of permission to conduct research in other countries, etc.
Also detailed breakdown of the financial support requested from the agency
Costs should be realistic and justified
See example 17-7 for a short sample budget table: Business office typically assists in putting together
17.9: Checklist
Does the abstract contain...
Objective
Strategy
Statement of need
Significance / impact of initiative
Context / background (optional)
Is the overall objective stated precisely?
Is the abstract short and within the set limits?
Is the unknown / problem clear?
Are all the components there?
Impact / significance
Research design
Intro / background
Abstract / overview
Is the approach clearly delineated, and does it include a rational as well as expected outcomes and significance ?
Is the proposed topic original?