Research proposal

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

What Makes a Good Proposal?

A good idea or a significant problem, a clear description on the idea or problem, then finally a funding agency’s priorities.

Factors We Can’t Control

Internal politics within the funding agency Stiff competition from other applicants Limited availability of funds for certain

program areas within funding agency

Factors We Can Control Quality of our own proposal

Requires careful research and planning Requires meticulous execution

What is a research proposal?

A research proposal is your plan It describes in detail your study Decisions about your study are based on the

quality of the proposal Research funding Approvals to proceed by the Institutional Review

Board

Any research /study should have a proper proposal in written form before it is actually carried out

It is like a blue print of a building plan before the construction starts Writing a research proposal is both science and artA good research proposal is based on

scientific facts and on the art of clear communication

Writing a formal research proposal should be started by the time one has decided on the topic for the study

Objective Justification Introduction Background /Review of literature Methodology Time frame and work schedule/Gantt chart Personnel needed / available Facilities needed / available Budget

Objectives• This is a very important and pivotal section and everything else in the study is centered around it• The objective of the proposed study should be stated very clearly • The objective stated should be specific,

achievable and measurable• Too many objectives to be avoided• Even just one clearly stated relevant objective for a

study would be good enough • If there is more than one objective the objectives

can be presented in the appropriate order of importance

Sections of the Proposal

SummaryNeed Budget

Plan

Evaluate

Method

Budget Your Time

80% planning the project 20% writing the proposal

Solid partnershipsSolid partnerships

Innovative Innovative projectproject

CommunicateCommunicate

Define your Define your budgetbudget

Cover/Title Page

Use sponsor agency form if applicable Use required guidelines (MLA, APA, EEE,

for title page Project title Organization name Sponsor agency name (if applicable) Submission date

Project Summary / Abstract

One page State problem Propose solution State project objectives and significance

NSF requires statement of intellectual merit and broader impacts

Introduction

The problem proposed to be studied is introduced in this section

It should help the reader to acquaint with the topic Introduction should be short about one or two pages The problem should be stated in such a way that it’s

importance and relevance is realized by any one who reads it

The research should be clear, concise & understandable

Introduction

What specific need or problem does your research address?

How was the need identified and its significance?

Who will benefit from the proposed research project?

What are the research questions and/or objectives of the proposal

Review of the Literature

Literature review should relate to: The topic Methodology Know the facts & issues Interest on the topic Identify the gaps Justify your study

Background(Review of Literature)

This section reflects extensive review of literature done by the investigator

In this section what is already known about the topic is written including the lacunae

Just quoting the literature verbatim will not serve the purpose It is important to make it coherent, relevant and easily readable

knowledge It helps the investigator to gain good knowledge in that field of

inquiry It also helps the investigator to have insight on different

methodologies that could be applied

Research methodology Research methodology is a way to systematically

solve the research problem. It may be understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically

It is necessary for the researcher to know not only the research methods/techniques but also the methodology.

Researchers not only need to know how to develop certain indices or tests and how to calculate the mean, the mode, the median or the standard deviation or chi-square etc.,

It is essential to discuss procedures clearly

and completely with considerable amount

of details Study designStudy population / Sampling specificationsSample size needed InstrumentationSpecific procedures

Study designDefinition: A study design is a specific

plan or protocol for conducting the study, which allows the investigator to translate the conceptual hypothesis into an operational one.

The study design should be clearly statedThe study design to be used should be

appropriate for achieving the objective of the study

Study population / Sample specifications It is important to describe which would be the study population How study subjects would be selected, randomization process and other details should be given

Sample size It is important to mention in the protocol what would be the minimum sample required and how it is arrived

Determination of sample size is a bargain between precision and the price (Resources & expenses involved)

Description of process Proposal should include the details of all processto be adopted in the study How exposures, outcome variables and other variables are going to be measured should be described indetail A brief description of how the data will be processed

and use of statistical package if any should be given What statistical tests of significance would be used?

Time Frame & Work Schedule

The proposal should include the sequence of tasks to be performed, the anticipated length of time required for its completion and the personnel required

It can be presented in tabular or graphic form (Gantt chart)

Flow charts and other diagrams are often useful for highlighting the sequencing and interrelationship of different activities in the study

Illustrate each phase of implementation Show when results will be achieved

Facilities

The proposal should also include the

important facilities required / available

for the study namely computers, laboratories, special equipment etc

Personnel

Proposal should include who are the primary investigators and co- investigators, their qualifications, research experience etc

The proposal may also include the Major roles to be taken up by different investigators

Bibliography

Should include full reference documentation for all books and articles

Use style format commonly adopted by specific field

Project Description and Plan of Operation

Describe activities to be undertaken Identify person responsible for each Describe oversight and management

of project Describe qualifications of key

personnel

Organizational Capability

Describe your organization, its history, and its mission

Describe organization’s strengths in terms of staff, facilities, resources

Describe prior experience relevant to the proposed project

Budget and Cost-Effectiveness

Make sure budget coincides with narrative Make sure sponsor will support budget

categories you propose Some sponsors may disallow equipment,

overhead or other costs


The budget translates project activities into monetary terms

It is a statement of how much money will be required to accomplish the various tasks

Major items Salary for staff Travel Purchase of equipment Printing / Xeroxing Consultancy charges Institutional overheads


Be realistic about your budget Inflating budget may hurt your chances of

being funded Budgeting too low may make the project

impossible to do with funds provided Estimate costs as accurately as possible


Cost-sharing Sometimes required by sponsor Can be cash or in-kind

Be careful: don’t cost-share items you can’t document

Check both sponsor’s and your own organization’s guidelines regarding cost-sharing

Overhead/Indirect costs Usually a percentage of total budget (45%) Check sponsor’s allowed overhead rate, if any


Demonstrate that project is cost-effective: it will have a significant impact for a reasonable cost

Describe organizational resources (staff support, facilities, equipment) not funded by the sponsor

Provide a budget narrative Explain how you arrived at figures in each category

How fringe benefits are calculated How you calculated travel costs How you estimated equipment costs

Advice on approach

Research the funder and the review process Always write for reviewer Communicate well w/ support (committee

who will write letters, unit that will submit grant proposals, agency officials)

Read directions and follow them obsessively Understand that a proposal is an instrument

of persuasion

Common, easy-to-avoid mistakes

Don’t follow directions (font, margins, pages, appended material, etc.)

Format Not allowing enough time Careless criticism of other scholars in field Don’t include all who, what, where, when,

why, and how info., up front

Other common problems w/ predoc proposals (more difficult to remedy):

Research problem itself Scholarly background to the problem—uneven

or inadequate or erroneous Writing unclear—too much jargon, not

accessible, or not well organized Methods and work plan unclear or undefended Lack of specificity

Funded!

Conceptualize

Declined

Try again

Wha

t next?W

rite

The Proposal Cycle

& R

evis

e

PI/Institution

Central Processing

Program Manager

Division Director

Ad Hoc Mail Reviewers

PanelAward

Decline

Withdraw

NSF Proposal Review and Decision Process

Target: 6 mos.

Division of Grants & Contracts

Site Review?

Research proposal

Social Media

Transcript of Research proposal