Refer3 Why Research Proposal

7/27/2019 Refer3 Why Research Proposal

1/59

How to Write aResearch Proposal

Biological Communication SkillsNagaraj Sitaram


2/59

Purpose of theResearch Proposal

Why do I Need a Research Proposal?


3/59

Why do I Need a Research Proposal?

To convince others of the value of yourresearch

To demonstrate expertise

To demonstrate competency

To serve as a contract

To assistyou as a planning tool

To meet the requirements of Biol 3920

To Demonstrate a Working Knowledge ofthe Process


4/59

Who will Evaluate my Proposal?

Review committees

Review panels

Individual reviewers Specialists/Generalists

Research proposals are often reviewed

by a mixture of experts in the field andreviewers from cognate disciplines

In Biol 3920 the Instructor Evaluates

your Proposal


5/59

When should theProposal be Written?


6/59

When should the Proposal be Written?

A research proposal (particularly at thepostgraduate level) is an iterative process

A substantial amount of work has to bedone before a proposal can be written

Some institutions assume that a researchproposal will be written over six or evennine months

Seek advice on your draft from facultyand peers

For Biol 3920 it becomes part of Mid-term


7/59

Core Components ofResearch Proposals

Make sure that these aremeaningful, not mechanistic


8/59

General Core Elements

A description of the researchquestion

A statement of why the problem isimportant

A review of relevant literature

A description of the proposed

methodology

A time frame/time-line of activities


9/59

Or in plain English...

What do you want to do?

Why do you want to do it?

Why is it important?

Who has done similar work?

How are you going to do it? How long will it take?


10/59

Additional Componentsof Research Proposals

Depending on the Project butfor Biol 3920 here is the outline
http://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Research_Proposal/Biol_3920_Res_Prop_Format_S04.htmlhttp://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Research_Proposal/Biol_3920_Res_Prop_Format_S04.html


11/59

Depending on the project... A budget

A description of how the research findingswill be disseminated

An outline of team membersresponsibilities

Capability statement of investigator(s)

Ethical statement Possible problems

Other information required by fundingagency...


12/59

Always try to find out exactlywhat thefunding agency or organization expectsin a proposal, and do it forBiol 3920

Bottom Line is
http://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Research_Proposal/Biol_3920_Res_Prop_Format_S04.htmlhttp://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Research_Proposal/Biol_3920_Res_Prop_Format_S04.html


13/59

Core components

Describing the Research Question First find a Research Question!


14/59

Describing theResearch Question

Where can I find a Research Question?


15/59

First find a Research Question!

Researchers get their questions from

many different places... Observation of the World

Concern with Theory

Previous Research or Lab Project Practical concerns

Personal interest


16/59

Choosing a Research Question A broad research area is not a

research question

Formulate a number of possible

questions, and weigh up the pros and

cons

The proposal must reflect that the

issues have been thought through


17/59

Criteria for Choosing Include... Access to information

Access to resources

Theoretical background

Value of research Researchers skills

Is question big/small enough

External requirements Overall probability of successful completion

Interest to researcher

Time constraints, i.e. only one semester!


18/59

Topic Analysis:attribute grids


19/59

Setting the Limits: Definitions

Provide explicit definitions for keyconcepts

Terms dont always have singlemeanings understood in the same wayby all

Dont under-or-overestimate yourreaders/audence

Dont provide mechanistic dictionary

definitions of all terms


20/59

Sample Definitions

A dependent variable is a variable that is influenced

by another variable.

The term ethics in research has been used todescribe a variety of practices relating to scientific

social and moral responsibility. For purposes of this

study, the term will be used to refer specificallyto the

formal set of practices and responsibilities outlined inDoe (1999).


21/59

Setting the Limits: Boundaries Specify the limits of the research in a

way which makes in clear what is

andi s not

to be studied, through, forexample,

definitions

time spans geographical boundaries

other limits as appropriate to the fieldof study


22/59

Setting the Limits: an example

How have North America mining

regulations changed with regardto environmental policy over theyears, and what has been the

impact of these changes onfreshwater ecosystem integrity?


23/59

Setting the Limits: example (cont.) Restrict to mining environmental

regulations

Define mining environmental regulations

(e.g. as Act or Public Law only)

Restrict study to uraniummining

Restrict period (e.g. 1935 - 1990)

Restrict impact to effect of uranium

production on the ecological integrity of

freshwater stream communities


24/59

Setting the Limits: a revised example

How did United States Public Law

92-500 (Clean Water Act) regulatinguranium mine waste dischargesinfluence the ecological integrity of

freshwater stream communities inNorth America between 1935 and1990 ?


25/59

Class discussion

Refining research questions


26/59

Literature Review

What is the Purpose?


27/59

Purpose of the Literature Review Provides a conceptual framework for the

research

Provides an integrated overview of the field ofstudy

Helps establish a need for the research

May help clarify the research problem

Helps to demonstrate researchers familiaritywith the area under consideration (theory and /or methods)


28/59

Skills Needed to Produce a Literature Review

Surveying a comprehensive range of existingmaterial and sources in the general areas ofyour study

Selecting those that will be most relevant andsignificant for your particular project

Understanding and analyzing the centralfindings and arguments

Synthesizing the findings and integrating theminto the research proposal

A good literature review generally contains anargument


29/59

How to Write a Literature Review

Indicate the ways in which the authors you arereviewing will be relevant to your research (information;theory; methodology)

Demonstrate that you understand the similarities and

differences between these works and paradigms(Where do they stand in relation to each other? Wheredoes your research stand in relation to them?)

The works that you refer to should reflect recent

scholarship as well as those considered to be ofseminal importance

If the study is cross-disciplinary or comparative youneed to describe how the different areas of researchcan be drawn together in a meaningful way


30/59

Questions to Help you in Compiling a

Literature Review

What are the broad bodies of literature thathave relevance for your research topic (localand international)?

What theoretical model(s) relate to yourresearch topic?

What theories, methods & results haveprevious researchers in your field produced?What is the history of your area of study?


31/59

Questions to Help you in Compiling a

Literature Review (cont.) What are the most recent findings in your

area of study?

What gaps or contradictions exist amongthese findings?

What new research questions do these

findings suggest? What structure suits my literature review

best?

What should I leave out?


32/59

The Literature Review is Not

Part of the research project (although theremay be an ongoing review of literaturethroughout the project, funding agencies expect

a solid preliminary review to have been carriedout before a proposal is submitted).

A bibliography

A series of descriptions of pieces of previousresearch with no apparent connection to each

other or your project


33/59

Significance of theResearch

Why do research so what?


34/59

Research Must Convey Value Practical value in solving problems

Value to policy development Contribution to theory Contribution to body of knowledge

within discipline Funding agencies often specify the

nature of the value they are lookingfor in research.


35/59

Methodology

Whats so important about

Methods and Materials?


36/59

What does the methodology section do?

What should it contain? The methodology section shows the reader

how you are going to set about looking foranswers to the research question (including, ifappropriate, materials and methods to beused)

It must include enough detail to demonstratethat you are competent and the project isfeasible

The proposed methods must be appropriate tothe type of research


37/59

Methodology section: traditional

empirical* environmental research

Hypothesis

Research design Sampling/study area

Measurement instruments

Data collection procedures Data analysis (statistical approach)

*Based solely on experiment and observation, nottheory


38/59

Empirical Research MethodologyFormat: a caveat Appropriate for traditional empirical

research Dont force either the terminology or the

methods of empirical research onto

proposals for other types of research


39/59

Time Frame/Time-line

Why all the fuss about Time-lines?


40/59

Time Frames Be realistic - novice researchers

tend to underestimate how long thestages of research will take

Develop a realistic step-by-steptimeline for your research i.e. a

Gantt or PERT Chart
http://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Timeline/Gantt_1.gifhttp://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Timeline/Gantt_1.gif


41/59

AdditionalComponents

For example, Budget, Disseminatingresults, Your qualifications/capability,QA/QC, to mention a few


42/59

Budget

Most every research proposal requires one!For Biol 3920 see Budget Format
http://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Dr_Os_Budget2_S01_Nsf.xlshttp://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Dr_Os_Budget2_S01_Nsf.xls


43/59

Budget Include a detailed budget

breakdown, if required

Follow the requirements of theorganization to which you are

submitting the proposal

Identify any other agencies or

organizations participating


44/59

Budget:Detail exampleSalaries & Wages

Research Assistance

Two full-time research assistants (Jr.or Sr. undergrad), 2 x 32 days @$120/day = $ 7680

Two part-time research assistants, 2

x 25 days @ $100/day = $5000

One part-time research assistant, 12days @ $70 = $840


45/59

Budget:Detail example (Cont.) Benefits

Travel

Non-expendables

Expendables

Total Direct Cost

Indirect Cost Total Project Cost

[Note: will be discussed in class Example]
http://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Biol_3920_Budget_Example_F06.htmhttp://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Biol_3920_Budget_Example_F06.htm


46/59

DisseminatingResearch Results


47/59

Disseminating Results Section If funding agencies want to fund valuable

research, they also want to see that theresearch results will be disseminated

If research is intended to assist a

community, it is of little use to publish itonly as an internal research report


48/59

Team MembersResponsibilities


49/59

Team Members

Responsibilities Section

Give an overview of what section(s)of the project each team member

will be responsible for not simply

a list of team members names


50/59

CapabilityStatement/Qualifications

Found in every research proposal


51/59

Qualification Statement List your qualifications focus of

those that uniquely qualify you to dothe research

For Biol 3920 we will develop a

resume for this section of theproposal


52/59

Statement of Completion

If you have completed this Presentation please

place link to the posted page, make a paper copy,complete and submit to the instructor before

leaving class today:
http://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Research_Proposal/Biol_3920_Res_Proposal_Signature_Completion_F06.htmhttp://iweb.tntech.edu/elmorgan/392/Research_Proposal/Biol_3920_Res_Proposal_Signature_Completion_F06.htm


53/59

Sample EvaluationCriteria (optional)


54/59

Sample evaluation criteriaCategory 1. Quality of the research proposal

1.1 Problem Identification:

1.1.1 Is the problem/line of inquiry clearly identified?

1.1.2 Has appropriate literature been examined in order toprovide a background to the problem?

1.1.3 Have other relevant sources been used to identify theproblem?

1.1.4 Are the aims and/or objectives of the inquiry clearlyspecified?

Is the hypothesis/ese clearly stated, testable, falsified?


55/59

Sample evaluation criteria (cont.)1.2 Approach:

1.2.1 To what extent are the conceptual frameworkand theoretical assumptions clearly stated?

1.2.2 Is the project design, methods of datacollection and analysis appropriate to the aims of the

research?


56/59

Sample evaluation criteria (cont.) 1.3 Significance:

1.3.1 To what extent will the research make an originalcontribution or be an innovative application of

knowledge to its disciplinary field and/or acrossdisciplines?

1.3.2 Is the proposed research a new line of inquiry?

1.3.3 Is the proposed research likely to promote furtherinvestigation within and/or across disciplines andfields?


57/59

Sample evaluation criteria (cont.) 1.4 Feasibility:

1.4.1 Do the preliminary data and the availableresources support the feasibility of the project?

1.4.2 Does the researchers track record or potential,support his/her ability to successfully accomplish theproject?

1.5 Budget:

1.5.1 Is the budget justified in relation to theproposed research activities?

1.5.2 Does the project include a plan for researchand budget management?

S l l ti it i ( t )


58/59

Sample evaluation criteria (cont.)Category 2. Impact of the proposed research

2.1 Within the research community:

2.1.1 Does the research promote teaching or does it have the potential todo so?

2.1.2 Does the research project promote research training?

2.1.3 Does the project include the participation of researchers, junior

researchers and postgraduate students from historically disadvantagedinstitutions, race and gender groups?

2.1.4 Is the research likely to create networks and partnerships locally,regionally and/or internationally?

2.1.5 Is the research likely to promote the acquisition of new databases,

literature collections, computer software and hardware or to promote thedevelopment of existing databases and literature collections?

2.1.6 Is there a plan to disseminate the research findings within thediscipline and across disciplines?


59/59

Sample evaluation criteria (cont.)2.2 Outside the research community:

2.2.1 Is there a plan to disseminate the researchfindings amongst stakeholders and the wider public?

2.2.3 Does the research project have a potentialsocial impact, i.e. promote problem solving, social

policy development or evaluation, etc.?

Refer3 Why Research Proposal

Documents

Transcript of Refer3 Why Research Proposal