the purpose of a research proposal - fraser health purpose of a research proposal is to: convince a...

11

Research Proposal: Writing and Style

© Fraser Health Authority, 2010

The Fraser Health Authority (“FH”) authorizes the use, reproduction and/or modification of this publication for purposes other than commercial redistribution. In consideration for this authorization, the user agrees that any unmodified reproduction of this publication shall retain all copyright and proprietary notices. If the user modifies the content of this publication, all FH copyright notices shall be removed, however FH shall be acknowledged as the author of the source publication.

Reproduction or storage of this publication in any form by any means for the purpose of commercial redistribution is strictly prohibited.

This publication is intended to provide general information only, and should not be relied on as providing specific healthcare, legal or other professional advice. The Fraser Health Authority, and every person involved in the creation of this publication, disclaims any warranty, express or implied, as to its accuracy, completeness or currency, and disclaims all liability in respect of any actions, including the results of any actions, taken or not taken in reliance on the information contained herein.

Magdalena Swanson, MScResearch & Grant Development FacilitatorEvaluation & Research [email protected]

Department of Evaluation and Research Services‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Library | Education | Administration | Development

Objectives

1. Understand the basic criteria that define a good research proposal and grant application

2. Understand the key components of a grant budget

3. Become aware of effective writing styles

The purpose of a research proposal

http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com

The purpose of a research proposal is to:

convince a reviewer/funder to entrust $$$

communication tool to present to others

create a sound plan to follow

apply for ethics approval

Research Proposal Sections

Introduction

Background

Previous work / preliminary data

Study justification

Study significance


Hypothesis

Aims / Objectives

SMART: Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant

Time-bound


*Methodology*

study design

subjects: recruitment, sampling

data collection

data analysis


Alternate approaches

Considerations

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com


Timeline

References

Appendices

tables

figures

survey tools

Research Application Components

Letter of Intent / Registration

Cover letter

Forms + signatures

Abstract / lay summary


Proposal

Response to previous review

Team (qualifications + roles)

Knowledge dissemination plan

Research environment

Future plans


Budget

Budget justification

CVs / resumés

Ethics approval


Letters of support

Letters of collaboration

Attachments

published papers

sample consent forms or data collection forms

Background

Context for problem

Statistics

Literature reviewcompleteness relevance to research plan

Should support study justification

TimelineWhat you will do and when

http://www.uwgb.edu/research/PreparingaProposal

KT Plan

Conference presentation or poster

Publishing

Meetings / workshops / educational events

Promotional video

Website content

Policy, guidelines, procedures

Letters of Support

Make each different and personal

Describe the problem the research project would address and its importance

State how the research project applies to your program priorities

Specifically state what support you will provide

BudgetMatching research activities to $$$

http://2.bp.blogspot.com

Budget Components

Research Personnel

Research Assistant

Research Coordinator

Statistician

Clinician

Budget Components

Research PersonnelTrainees

Undergraduate student / Co-op student

MSc, MPH, MA, PhD, PharmD student (etc.)

Clinical student

FTE rate + benefits x # hours

Budget Components

Applicant Time

rarely can applicant time be paid for

usually, applicants are not paid salaries

Budget Components

ServicesHealth records

Microbiology lab

Pharmacy

Decision support

Printer

Budget Components

ServicesSurvey company

Statistician

Facility rental

Honoraria

Catering

Budget Components

Supplies / EquipmentOffice supplies (research related)

Medical supplies (research related)

Postage

Digital recorder

Laptop

Budget Components

Travel: Conference, other

http://www.grouptravelspecialist.com.au

Budget Preparation

A spreadsheet is helpful

$82,250.00$ 7,850.00 $74,400.00

24000240interlibrary loan

20020000long distance (interviews)

2400120001200office material

Supplies

2700002700catering

10005000500web posting

9000009000video development

Services

5950595000059501Summer student

60760006076011760490001Research Assistant

Personnel

in-kindcashtotalbenefitssalaryn

TOTALOther Funding

CIHR

Budget JustificationExplanation & Rationale

eg) Research Assistant

$55,353 ($55,800 salary at 0.8 FTE plus 24% benefits)

A research assistant is requested at .80 FTE for the one year duration of the funding. The assistant will be responsible for subject recruitment, data collection, and maintenance of the research studies database.

This individual will be supervised by the PI.

The scope of this position demands a trained individual with significant experience in the coordination of research. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Signatures

Principal Applicant(s)

Co-applicants

Institutional

Financial officer

Signatures: FH Research Policy

applicant

applicant’s administrative supervisor

VP Medicine or designate

Meaning of Signatures

FH Research Policy• the applicant is eligible to apply• the applicant has sufficient space and

resources to do the research• if an award is made, FH is able and willing to

administer the funds on behalf of the granting agency in accordance with the guidelines of the granting agency

• if an award is made, the awardee agrees to abide by the award regulations of the granting agency

Meaning of Signatures

FH Research Policy• if an award is made, FH will not release

funding to the awardee until all award conditions of the granting agency and the FH have been met, including regulatory requirements

• if an award is made, the awardee will use the award only for the purposes for which the award was made

• if an award is made, the awardee will notify FH Research and the granting agency if there is any change in their status that affects the award

Meaning of Applicant Signatures

CIHRAgrees to assume responsibility for the legal and

ethical conduct of the research, for the integrity of the research activities and reported data, and for communicating the results of the research recognizing the contributions of other persons working on the project

Meaning of Institutional Signature

CIHRHe or she is authorized to bind the institution

The institution agrees with the content of the application and will provide the committed resources


CIHRThe institution will provide grant-holders with the

necessary time to do their research

The institution agrees to comply with CIHR's data protection requirements and has adequate safeguards in place to protect sensitive information


CIHRThe institution agrees to the public release of a

summary of the grant and to the publication of the organization's name as a supporter of the initiative

A word about format

http://homepages.sover.net

Team Methods Budget Forms Proposal Signatures

Application Deadline

CVs Letters

1

23

4

Red numbers = critical path to obtain signatures (a draft of the proposal is sufficient)Asterisk = time to complete task very often underestimated

photocopying / mailing

* *

*

Literature Review

Tim

eGive Yourself Time

Don’t wait for funding announcement to develop research plan and team

Short notice on many RFAs

Anticipate 3x the expected time

Workshop Activity - Letter

Letter of Support

Internal person

External person

Workshop Activity - Budget

Supplies / Equipment

Services

PersonnelTOTALbenefitssalaryn

http://static.open.salon.com

Cannot succeed without great content

Readability also important

Leonardo da Vinci

Audience

Keep the audience in mind

what is their level of expertise?

what is their area of expertise?

Audience

Keep the audience in mind

busy + tired people

make it easy for them

4 Cs

ClearConciseCorrectCompelling

Clarity

http://www.cgu.edu/images

Clarity: First Page

Short introductory paragraph

problem, statistics

Goal

Hypothesis, Research Question

Objectives / Aims

Significance

Clarity: Proposal

Headings

Spell out abbreviations 1st time

Avoid long sentences

Get to the point

Transitions between paragraphs e.g. however, moreover, in addition to, conversely…

Concise

Avoid a brain dump: ‘need to know’ vs ‘nice to know’

Organize with headings and subheadings

Use graphics

Figures

Graham, I. D. et al. (2006) J Contin Educ Health Prof, Vol. 26, No. 1

Figures

A B C D

Figures

http://www.nysdra.org

Figures

15%

5%

15% 15%

Research plan

Statistical plan

Spelling and grammar

Read guidelines in detail

Correct

Highlight: SignificanceFeasibilityInnovationQualifications

Compelling

Read the review criteria

Ensure all review criteria are addressed

Make review criteria items easy to spot

Compelling

State how your research addresses priorities

funderyour institutiongovernmentadvisory groupshealth associations

Compelling

Abstract

First page

Be careful with clever titles

Put the most important sentences at the beginning and the end of paragraphs

Compelling

Use serif font for proposal text

Use sans-serif for figures + tables

Font size 12 (unless figure/table)

Leave 1’’ margins

Style

Use only left justification

Use max 2 highlighting styles together

Be consistent with formatting

Style

Leave white spaceavoid pages of wall-to-wall text

Don’t make lists in sentences use bullets

Don’t use ‘I’

Use a formal tone

Style

Try to get your hands on examples

Style

Iterative process

First draft: don’t self-edit

After 1st or 2nd draft, get content feedback

Later drafts, clean up spelling, grammar, flowemploy non-expert readers

Writing & Editing

Write the abstract last

Write the background second last

Do an outline

Writing & Editing

Start small

Don’t get discouraged

It’s a learning curve

http://rlv.zcache.com

73%

55%

16%

58%

ApproachInvestigatorOtherProblem

University of Michigan Proposal Writer's Guide by Don Thackreyhttp://www.research.umich.edu/proposals/PWG/pwgrejected.html?print

Why Proposals Get Rejected

Problem (58 percent)

The problem is not of sufficient importance or is unlikely to produce any new or useful information (33.1)

The proposed research is based on a hypothesis that rests on insufficient evidence, is doubtful, or is unsound (8.9)

The problem is more complex than the investigator appears to realize (8.1)

The problem has only local significance, or is one of production or control, or otherwise fails to fall sufficiently clearly within the general field of health-related research (4.8)


Problem (58 percent)

The problem is scientifically premature and warrants, at most, only a pilot study (3.1)

The research as proposed is overly involved, with too many elements under simultaneous investigation (3.0)

The description of the nature of the research and of its significance leaves the proposal nebulous and diffuse and without a clear research aim (2.6)


Approach (73 percent)

The proposed tests, or methods, or scientific procedures are unsuited to the stated objective (34.7)

The description of the approach is too nebulous, diffuse, and lacking in clarity to permit adequate evaluation (28.8)

The overall design of the study has not been carefully thought out (14.7)

The statistical aspects of the approach have not been given sufficient consideration (8.1)


Approach (73 percent)

The approach lacks scientific imagination (7.4)

Controls are either inadequately conceived or inadequately described (6.8)

The material the investigator proposes to use is unsuited to the objective of the study or is difficult to obtain (3.8)

The number of observations is unsuitable (2.5)

The equipment contemplated is outmoded or otherwise unsuitable (1.0)


Investigator (55 percent)

The investigator does not have adequate experience or training for this research (32.6)

The investigator appears to be unfamiliar with recent pertinent literature or methods (13.7)

The investigator's previously published work in this field does not inspire confidence (12.6)


Investigator (55 percent)

The investigator proposes to rely too heavily on insufficiently experienced associates (5.0)

The investigator is spreading himself too thin; he will be more productive if he concentrates on fewer projects (3.8)

The investigator needs more liaison with colleagues in this field or in collateral fields (1.7)


Other (16 percent)

The requirements for equipment or personnel are unrealistic (10.1)

It appears that other responsibilities would prevent devotion of sufficient time and attention to this research (3.0)

The institutional setting is unfavorable (2.3) Research grants to the investigator, now in force, are

adequate in scope and amount to cover the proposed research (1.5)


The Health Research Intelligence Unit is on the case!

Never Fear

http://www.birthdaydressup.com

the purpose of a research proposal - fraser health purpose of a research proposal is to: convince a...

Documents