BIOL 391 Research Proposal Writing Guide PDF

10/27/24 Writing Research Proposals Ch 17, Hofmann (2025) BIOL 391 Introduction to Biological Research Burman, Fall 2024 1 2...

10/27/24 Writing Research Proposals Ch 17, Hofmann (2025) BIOL 391 Introduction to Biological Research Burman, Fall 2024 1 2 Get out of your comfy sofa … your Mission Seek to convince readers that what you propose to do should be done; can be done; and should, in fact, be done exactly how you propose to do it. 3 4 Typically, a proposal should answer Follow instructions Exactly. the following: If the granting agency have instructions for Why this project? the proposal – FOLLOW Why you? INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY. Why at your institution? Competition is tough as many are seeking funding. Why this sponsor (funding agency)? To maximize your chances of obtaining Why now? funding, present all information requested. Or the 5 Whys? 5 6 1  10/27/24 A typical proposal includes the following sections: Abstract Specific Aims Background, including a Statement of Need Research Design Significance/Impact (note: for this class we will simplify this to only 3 sections; the Abstract will be substituted by the poster that you will present at the end, as it a concise summary of the proposal) 7 8 2 major parts of any proposal: Literature 1. A review of the relevant scientific As you review the primary literature on a particular topic, but you do so with a particular literature, and goal in mind: You wish to lead your reader to 2. A description of the proposed the inescapable conclusion that the question you propose to address follows logically research. from the research that has gone before. Once you develop a research question to ask, you should have an easier time focusing your literature review on the development of a single, clearly articulated theme. 9 10 Main Question Researching your topic. A good question is Before plunging into the original, primary scientific literature, read the appropriate based on a topic you sections of several relevant textbooks and have considerable perhaps a recent review paper(s), i.e., tertiary knowledge and can and secondary sources. understand fully. Be an “active” reader (i.e., engage the literature). Thus, plenty of Keep an appropriate textbook/computer by “inductive space”. your side as you read the primary literature so that you can look up unfamiliar facts and terminology. 11 12 2  10/27/24 As you read, pay attention: As you read, pay attention: 1. What specific question is being asked? 4. How convincing are the results? Are 2. How does the design of the study any of the results surprising? address the question posed? 5. What contribution does this study 3. What are the controls for each make toward answering the original experiment? Are they appropriate and question? adequate? 6. What aspects of the original question – The Materials and Methods section and the remain unanswered? Results section of research papers must therefore be read with particular care and attention. 13 14 What makes a Good Research Reread paper: Question? 7. What might be a next logical question to Most difficult part. ask, and how might this question be What you propose to do must be doable; it addressed? must also seem like the next most logical question to ask in the area in which you are Continue your library research using the proposing to work, based on previously references listed at the end of the recent published research. papers you are reading, and also more library The question you propose must also be within searches. your realm of expertise. You cannot write a convincing proposal on a topic that you do not fully understand. 15 16 What makes a Good Research Question? The trick to asking a good question is to write down lots and lots of questions as you read and as you think about the topic. Many of the questions won’t lead anywhere or won’t lead anywhere that interests you, but eventually you will come up with something that fits the bill. Hence, the value of a good notebook. 17 18 3  10/27/24 For the next 1-4 weeks …...Nov 25th! Procedures – Writing the Proposal. Divide your paper into 4 main portions: 1) Introduction, 2) Background, 3) Proposed Research, and 4) Impact and Significance. 19 20 1. Introduction Introduction The Introduction provides only (1) general Limit your Introduction to 2 or 3 background to help the reader understand why the topic is of interest and (2) a brief but paragraphs. clear statement of the specific research Every factual statement is supported by topic/aim that will be addressed. a reference to one or more papers from the It helps to write the last sentence of your Introduction first, stating the specific primary literature. question to be addressed; then write the rest of your Introduction, giving just enough information for the reader to understand why anyone would want to ask such a question. 21 22 2. Background Background Discuss this literature in detail The Background section will end with a (demonstrate your complete mastery of the summary statement of what is now relevant literature), leading up to the specific known and what is not yet known about objective/aim of your proposed research. the research topic under consideration. This section of your proposal follows the It will also include a clear, specific format of a good review paper or essay. description of the research question(s) Bulk of your proposal – 3 to 5 pages. you propose to investigate. 23 24 4  10/27/24 Background Cite References In summary, the background may contain Cite references directly in the text by subsections, each addressing a subset author and year (e.g., (Smith, 2023)). question: Use the APA format for Literature – Start with known background Cited, as discussed in chapter 8 – Next state the unknown/problem/need – Question/aim/hypothesis (Hofmann (2025)). – End with a summary 25 26 3. Proposed Research As you describe each component of your proposed research, indicate clearly what specific question each experiment is designed to address. 2 interrelated parts: 1. What specific question(s) will you ask? And 2. And how will you address each of those questions? Or a detail approach to answer the question. Flow chart can be used as an outline. 27 28 Proposed Research Proposed Research If the proposed research has several distinct If there are subsections, cover the following: components, it is helpful to separate them using subheadings. Heading: Specific aim/objective to address Model your Proposed Research section on the a question. Materials and Methods section of any well- – Rationale/Hypothesis written, published research article. If you end up performing the research – Experimental design proposed, you will already have your Materials – Analysis and Methods section nearly ready for – Expected results (outcomes and significance) publication! 2-3 pages. – Alternate strategies (if needed) 29 30 5  10/27/24 4. Impact and Significance What are Reviewers Looking for? In the last paragraph of your proposal, 1. Does the applicant know the literature in state the impact and significance of the his or her field and understand it overall project. thoroughly? 2. Is the applicant asking interesting or Focus on how the general population important questions? will benefit from your research rather 3. Do the questions follow logically from what than on your own research goals. is already known about the topic? Like the conclusion or discussion section of 4. Are there specific hypotheses to be tested? an essay. 5. Can the hypotheses be tested? 31 32 What are Reviewers Looking for? 6. Can the work be done successfully using the methods proposed? 7. Are potential problems anticipated? If so, does the researcher have plans for dealing with them? 8. If proposing a field study, does the author indicate where and when the study will be done and why that site and those time periods were chosen? 9. Does the author indicate sample sizes, numbers of replicates, and how the data will be analyzed? 33 34 35 6