The Research Grant Proposal

Preliminary Planning
The purpose of a research proposal is to provide a statement establishing the ob
jectives and scholarly significance of the proposed activity, the technical qual
ifications of the project director/principal investigator and his or her organiz
ation, and the level of funding required. The proposal should contain sufficient
information to persuade both the professional staff of the agency and members o
f the scholarly community that the proposed activity is soun????????????????????
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???????????????????????????? of judges:
1.
A clearly written abstract is especially helpful. 'the review committee
may be examining many proposals over a ?????????????????????????????????????????
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???????g. 5. Clear, professionally defined budgets over the time period are impe
rative. The committee must be convinced that the size o?????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????ing evidence that convinces the committee the applicant i
s able and will carry the research to completion is especially importan?????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????orms that prescribe precisely what is wan
ted; others encourage latitude. The researcher must bend to meet the requirement
s.
Wha?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????l, they include those shown i
n this volume in Section 2.1, "Basic Research Outline Guide for the Design of a
Social Research Pro?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? proposed res
earch
7.
evaluation
8.
description of relevant institutional resources
9.
list of references
10.
vitae
11 ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????f the proposal and the proced
ures to be used to meet these objectives. These materials are condensed to a pag
e or less (specific?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????c) it will so
metimes be the only part of the proposal that is read by those reviewing a panel
's recommendation or the field read?????????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???he proposed work; the name, title, phone number, and address of the project d
irector; the period of time; the requested amount; ?????????????????????????????
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(??(?No List????34???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????. personne
l
12.
budget
13.
other items
Title page. Many sponsoring agencies have their own format for the title page, w
hich is usually self-explanatory. In the absence of that requirement, the face p
age should include most of the following items: the ????????????????????????????
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?333????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????dav
 ????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????z ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????g????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????$???D??9???????ers' consensus. W
ith these many uses, it is important that the abstract be prepared with the utmo
st care and that objectives and procedures are paraphrased using general but pre
cise
statements. Key concepts presented in the body of the proposal are highlighted i
n the abstract to alert the reviewer to look for them in the body of the proposa
l.
Table of contents. A brief proposal does not necessarily need a table of content
s. The convenience of the reader should be the guiding consideration. When inclu
ded, the table of contents should list all major parts and divisions of the prop
osal. Introduction. The introduction should be clear to the layperson, should gi
ve enough background to enable the reader to place the proposal in a context of
common knowledge, and should show how the proposed activities will advance the f
ield or be important to the solution of the problem.
Background. Information should be presented here to review what has been accompl
ished in the field, to demonstrate the researcher's competence in connection wit
h the problem, and to show what he or she will add to the existing field of know
ledge.
Description of proposed research. The proposa11otild present a detailed descript
ion of the work to be undertaken. The objectives and significance should be clea
rly and specifically stated. Research methods or operating procedures should be
detailed, and the general plan of work, including the broad design of experiment
s, should be out Evaluation. The proposal should provide an evaluation component
designed to determine how effective the program is in reaching the objectives e
stablished and in solving the problems dealt with. If possible, the evaluation s
hould also be designed to allow for appropriate changes and adjustments in a pro
gram as it proceeds.
Description of relevant institutional resources. Available facilities and major
items of equipment especially adapted to the proposed project should be describe
d. These facilities could include libraries, computer centers, other recognized
centers, and any special but relevant equipment.
List of references. This list is desirable only if the proposal contains six or
more references. Otherwise, references can be. inserted in the text.
Vitae. Most sponsoring agencies require a curriculum vitae and list of publicati
ons for each faculty member and senior professional staff member in the project.
Personnel. All personnel who will participate in the proposed project should be
identified by name, title, and the expected amount of time to be devoted to the
project. Unfilled positions should be marked "vacant" or "to be selected." If th
e individuals involved have exceptional qualifications that would merit consider
ation in the evaluation of the proposal, this information should be included.
Budget. A checklist for budget items should include the following:'
salaries and wages academic personnel during academic year
academic personnel during summer research associates research assistants
technicians
secretarial staff hourly help fringe benefits consultants fees travel expenses e
quipment, including installation and freight supplies chemicals and glassware
animals and animal supplies photocopying costs office supplies fit in travel dom
estic foreign alterations and renovation other costs trainee costs publication o
f reports telephone and telegraph equipment rental data processing postage subco
ntracts indirect costs

For further assistance, see the NSF research grant proposal budget in Section 7.
C.4.
If a grant research officer is available in the researcher's organization, his o
r her help and counsel should be sought. The preparation of a budget requires al
l the planning skill that can be mustered. Nothing but problems await for failur
es at this phase of the research.
Other items. Space does not permit the publication of a complete proposal. Those
interested in more detailed advice on proposal writing are referred to D. R. Kr
ath wohl's How to Prepare a Research Proposal.2
After writing the proposal, the researcher should imagine that he or she is a me
mber of a review board. What questions would the proposal raise? The researcher
should review the specifications for sociological report rating presented in Sec
tion 7.D.1 and ask, Would I receive a superior rating on all specifications? If
not, he or she should start again.