_download_gw501_background and significance - woodall

8/8/2019 _download_gw501_Background and Significance - Woodall

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Writing theWriting the

Background and SignificanceBackground and Significance

SectionSection

W. Gill Woodall, Ph. D.W. Gill Woodall, Ph. D.

Senior Research ScientistSenior Research Scientist

AndAndProfessor of CommunicationProfessor of Communication

CASAA-UNM


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Normal length: 3Normal length: 3--5 pages is5 pages isoften what is recommendedoften what is recommended


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ContinuityContinuity There should be a smooth, continuous flowThere should be a smooth, continuous flow

across sections:across sections: Abstract: Engage the reviewerAbstract: Engage the reviewer

Specific Aims: What will be accomplished?Specific Aims: What will be accomplished?

BackgroundBackground : What has been done so far?: What has been done so far?

SignificanceSignificance : Why is this research important?: Why is this research important?

Preliminary Studies: What havePreliminary Studies: What have youyoudone so far?done so far?

Research Plan: What will you do and why?Research Plan: What will you do and why?


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Two ComponentsTwo Components

Two distinct but interTwo distinct but inter--related purposes:related purposes:

Background:Background:Thoroughly reviewThoroughly review

(others(others) research to date relevant to) research to date relevant toyour proposalyour proposal

SignificanceSignificance: Establish why the: Establish why theproposed research matters, making anproposed research matters, making an

important contribution of newimportant contribution of new

knowledgeknowledge


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Which Comes First?Which Comes First?

BackgroundBackgroundprovides the context forprovides the context forsignificance and shows gaps insignificance and shows gaps inknowledgeknowledge

SignificanceSignificanceraises interest and providesraises interest and provides

the context for organizing andthe context for organizing andunderstanding background researchunderstanding background research

Significance sandwichSignificance sandwich OverallOverall significancesignificance, problem, question, problem, question

Background researchBackground research

SpecificSpecific significancesignificance


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Background SearchBackground Search Missing important published studies isMissing important published studies is

one reason for a proposal being markedone reason for a proposal being markeddowndown

FindingFinding allallthe relevant researchthe relevant research Electronic search termsElectronic search terms

Published reviewsPublished reviews

Hand searches of key journalsHand searches of key journals Branching through citationsBranching through citations

Science Citation Index tracesScience Citation Index traces

Colleague preColleague pre--reviewreview


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Background TheoryBackground Theory

What organizing theories are relevant?What organizing theories are relevant? What theory guided your study design,What theory guided your study design,

selection of measures and methods?selection of measures and methods?

What theory or theories would be testedWhat theory or theories would be tested

in the proposed study?in the proposed study?

Are there theories that make conflictingAre there theories that make conflicting

predictions?predictions?


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Background ComponentsBackground Components Index card sortingIndex card sorting

What are the major clusters ofWhat are the major clusters ofbackground research findings?background research findings?

These become the sideThese become the side--heads of yourheads of yourbackground sectionbackground section

It is strongly recommended that youIt is strongly recommended that yououtline all of this before you start writingoutline all of this before you start writingthis sectionthis section


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B. Background andB. Background and

SignificanceSignificance

B.1 College Binge Drink ing: EpidemiologyB.1 College Binge Drink ing: Epidemiologyand Intervention Effectivenessand Intervention Effectiveness

B.1.1. Universal prevent ive interventions.B.1.1. Universal prevent ive interventions.

B.1.2. Targeted intervent ions.B.1.2. Targeted intervent ions. B.1.3. Motivational Interview ing approachesB.1.3. Motivational Interview ing approaches

to binge drinking prevention.to binge drinking prevention.

B.1.4. Summary.B.1.4. Summary.


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B.2. Health Information andB.2. Health Information andInterventions on the InternetInterventions on the Internet

B.2.1. Categories of health websiteB.2.1. Categories of health website

design.design.

B.2.2.B.2.2. Summary.Summary.


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B.3 Website Development PrinciplesB.3 Website Development Principles B.4 Overall SummaryB.4 Overall Summary


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What does it look like on theWhat does it look like on thepage?page?

(take a look)(take a look)


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This outline took 7 pages of narrative toThis outline took 7 pages of narrative tocompletecomplete

It is organized on broad to narrower literatureIt is organized on broad to narrower literature

focus implicit in the outlinefocus implicit in the outline It uses forecasting statements in theIt uses forecasting statements in the

introduction to each section and subsectionintroduction to each section and subsection

It uses summary sections at the end of eachIt uses summary sections at the end of each

major subsection and sectionmajor subsection and section


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Organizing the ComponentsOrganizing the Components

A logically organized flow that is easy to readA logically organized flow that is easy to readand followand follow

that leads right up to the doorstep of thethat leads right up to the doorstep of theresearch that you propose to doresearch that you propose to do

and shows how your research will fit in, extend,and shows how your research will fit in, extend,complement, or challenge current knowledgecomplement, or challenge current knowledgeand theoryand theory

Numbered sideNumbered side--heads can be helpful in orientingheads can be helpful in orienting

the reviewer to the flow of your argumentthe reviewer to the flow of your argument


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Overall SignificanceOverall Significance

The overview: So what? Who cares?The overview: So what? Who cares? Significance and Innovation as NIH reviewSignificance and Innovation as NIH review

criteriacriteria

Why does research in this area matter?Why does research in this area matter?

NIH: How will this benefit health?NIH: How will this benefit health?

Is there a practical problem addressed byIs there a practical problem addressed by

this research?this research?


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Specific SignificanceSpecific Significance How will your research be an advance?How will your research be an advance?

How is this a logical next step?How is this a logical next step?

What new knowledge will result?What new knowledge will result?

Does it fill in a gap in research to date?Does it fill in a gap in research to date?

How will this knowledge be applicable?How will this knowledge be applicable? Where is this line of research going?Where is this line of research going?

Where might it lead?Where might it lead? (If in response) How is your research(If in response) How is your research

relevant to the needs stated in the PA,relevant to the needs stated in the PA,

RFA, or RFP?RFA, or RFP?


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Your Questions??!!Your Questions??!!

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