Publishing Reports of STEM Research—Plus Some Tips on Writing Grant Proposals!

Guidelines for Getting Published or Funded

James A. Shymansky

E. Desmond Lee Professor of Science Education

University of Missouri-Saint Louis

2

Before writing or proposing:

Who is the audience? Is the question important? Will new knowledge emerge? Can a “case” be made?

33

Critical Components of a Manuscript

Introduction — Problem Space Literature Review —Theory & Place Design — Warrants & Backing Results — Evidence from Data Discussion — Claims, Counterclaims &

Rebuttals

4

Title Be concise but understandable Include as many key terms as possible Avoid acronyms and unknown terms

5

Abstract & KeywordsKeywords 5 to 10 words or short phrases Alphabetical order

Abstract The last thing to write Interesting and readable Avoid references Concise (120–200 words) APA provides items that

should be described in abstracts for 5 types of articles

Abstract (cont.) Clear connections to:

Problem space Research questions Theoretical frameworks Procedures Results Potential implications Title

6

Introduction

Be brief and be interesting — 1 or 2 paragraphs, not more than 1 page

Set the context, problem space and need for the study (rationale)

Clearly state the research questions, focus, purpose, or goal

Provide brief notes on research methods that will be used

7

Background

Explain study’s place or fit Provide theoretical framework Cite only recent, relevant literature

8

Research design Provide overview of research approach Describe the treatments

What were the participants to do? What was done to the participants?

Describe the subjects or informants This description may serve as basis for

readers’ generalizations.

9

Research design (continued)

Describe data sources and collection techniques Reliability and validity Equipment demands

Provide interpretive frameworks or data analysis procedures Scoring rubrics Choice of statistical analyses Coding procedures and verification

10

(Quantitative) Results Provide essential tables and graphs Identify significant patterns in data Point out critical anomalies in data Present post-hoc analyses as needed Use appendices when available

11

(Qualitative) Results Use boldface type to set off

assertions Use italics to set off evidence, such as

informant quotes and text excerpts Use appendices or publisher websites

for lengthy data records

12

Discussion and Implications

State claims with evidence; do not just repeat results Connect claims to initial need, theory and literature Rebut counterclaims/alternative explanations Share implications and questions for future research

Appendices, Notes, and Acknowledgements Not necessarily part of every paper or

article Some journals allow only online access

to appendices Funding support and assistance with

data collection, writing, reviewing or revising may be acknowledged as a professional courtesy

13

Manuscript rejected?? Is the manuscript salvageable? Can reported data be re-analyzed? Are there other data to consider? Can/should other data be collected? Could a new co-author help? Co-authorship issues? Should another journal be considered? Persevere; don’t give up!!

14

15

Post-script: Writing a grant, not a paper A grant proposal argues a case for

something yet to be done, not for something that has been done.

There are no data to report or results to defend, but an argument must still be made!!

16

The proposal argument**

Need for project** Project design/plan** Staff expertise** Cost**

17

Proposal not funded: To revise and resubmit or not? Need for project? Most likely cause for

rejection—difficult to fix—hope for change of reviewer group.

Design/plan? Many possible reasons—but usually feasible to fix.

Staff expertise? Personal challenge—think about changing the team!

18

A Final Recommendation (based on many years of rejected papers and proposals):

Persevere! In almost all cases you can find a place to publish your research, if not in the first journal you chose, then in an alternative one. There are fewer places to submit grant proposals, but the advice is the same—Persevere!