Transcript Writing a Research Proposal for Funding

Writing a Research Proposal
for Funding
An Overview
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Network Centre - Summer 2006
Overview
Why do research, why is quality
important?
Parts of a Proposal
What are reviewers looking for?
Additional resources
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Why do research?
To obtain funding for
classroom/school/board initiatives
To examine problems and develop
solutions
To clearly communicate progress in
schools and classrooms
To facilitate professional development
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Why is it important to write a quality
research project?
Competition for resources
There are bound to be more applications for
money than money available; make your
project “stand out”
To define your research
The more work and detail that is included in
your application, the easier it will be to get
started once you have funding
To obtain “buy in” of stakeholders
The proposal writing process can be used to
generate motivation and enthusiasm for the
project
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What are the different parts of the
proposal?
Remember that each Application
Package will be different.
Generally, there are some
components included in most
packages, for instance….
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Instructions for Completing the
Application & Process of Approval
Pay close attention to:
Who is funding the research?
Deadlines for submission
Amount of funding available (or maximum that you can
request)
Where to send application
Contact person, address
Electronically or by mail
Number of copies required
When you will know the result
Any interim or final reports required
Signatures required
Be sure to discuss with your superintendent/supervisor
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Criteria
The Application package should included criteria
for funding, and may contain information on how
projects will be “graded”
Pay attention to:
Key purpose – What are funders looking to know more
about?
Checklists – You may be asked to list from a checklist
what criteria your proposal addresses
Key Phrases – Often, funders will have key phrases
related to the criteria (e.g. projects should be related to
“capacity building”. Keep key phrases in mind and
demonstrate throughout your proposal how your project
relates to “Key phrases”
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General Information (Narrative)
This section will request the specifics
of your project, and will usually
include:
Title
Name of main contact/research team
Contact Information
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Focus of Research Question
It is important that your research question
is clear and addresses your main reason
for doing your research
Every component of your proposal should
be linked back to your research question
For more information on developing
research questions, go to the “Action
Research” Module at
http://www.misaeast.on.ca/principals/action.php
?language=english
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Staff/Stakeholder Involvement
You should be prepared to identify how
staff or other stakeholders (students,
parents, etc) will be involved. You may
choose to involve stakeholders in:
Development of project
Delivery of project
Analysis of results
Write up of report
Sharing of results
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Timeline/Project Duration
Developing a timeline helps reviewers
understand your research intentions,
and helps to keep your research team
on track. Consider the following:
Review the general information/timelines
for completion
Break your project into phases and
assigning completion dates to each
phase
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Description of your project
You will most likely be asked to provide a
full overview of your project.
Consider using headings to address the
following:
Introduction – What is the background on this
topic?
Methodology – What will your work look like in
operation?
Communication Plan – How will your results be
shared?
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Indicators or Success
Define how you will determine the
impact of your research, what
indicators you will use, and how you
will collect the information
(see “Guidelines for selecting
Assessments” document)
Types of Indicators
Methods for collecting data related to
indicators
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Contributions
This section should cover what
contributions your project will make to the
body of knowledge in the area of your
research
Make links between your project and the criteria
set out in the application
Make links to how your project relates to
student achievement and/or school
improvement
What is new or novel about your study?
What additional questions may be generated
from your research?
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Ethical Considerations
Consider any ethical implications of
your research
Be sure to pass the project by your
supervisor/superintendent and
appropriate board staff
Be sure to include any information
letters/letters of permission that will
need to be used for the project
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Budget
Clearly identify what you expect your
project will cost. Include:
Supply costs, travel costs
Supplies, equipment, resources, computer
software
Meeting expenses
Temporary staff, honourariums
Be sure to include any “in-kind”
contributions so that funders can see your
commitment to the project
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Abstract
An abstract outlines the intent of your
research and methodology in just a
couple paragraphs
If you are asked to complete an
abstract, leave it until the end so that
it summarizes what you have
prepared
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What are “reviewers” looking for?
While each application package is different, in
general, reviewers are looking for the following:
Complete package handed in on time
Clear concise statements of purpose and rationale
Enough detail to attend to the important features of the
application
Samples of assessments, surveys, observations or
reporting forms that may already have been developed
References or sources that you referred to in the
package
What makes your project unique? How is it original,
beneficial, what benefits will be felt through this
research?
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Additional Resources
To find additional sources and
resources on writing a proposal for
funding, go to the link:
http://www.misaeast.on.ca/principals/glo
ssary.php?language=english
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