1 / 226

Preparing and Writing Research Proposals

Preparing and Writing Research Proposals © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. Arizona M. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDC Update 2004 Contents Introduction The Need for Scientific Research Identifying and Prioritizing Research Needs Identifying Sources of Research Funding

Mercy
Download Presentation

Preparing and Writing Research Proposals

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Preparing and Writing Research Proposals © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDC Update 2004

  2. Contents • Introduction • The Need for Scientific Research • Identifying and Prioritizing Research Needs • Identifying Sources of Research Funding © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  3. Contents (cont‘d) • Research Proposal Procees • Pre-planning • Writing the Proposal Pre-planning • Writing the Proposal © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  4. Contents (cont‘d) • Writing Techniques and Appearance of Proposal • Post-Proposal Writing • Group Research © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  5. The Need for Scientific Research © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  6. Objectives of this session © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  7. Review the basic components of scientific research. Examine the scientific method in practice. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  8. Examine the relationship among research, tech-nology and production. Consider the value of the research endeavor to education © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  9. Basic Components of the Scientific Method Empirical Evidence Logical Reasoning Skepticism © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  10. Primary Literature Secondary Literature Textbook Science Reliable Knowledge © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  11. Initial Experimental and Observational Data Discarded by Peers No Primary Literature Yes Discarded by Peers No Secondary Literature Yes Discarded by Peers No Yes Textbook Literature © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  12. The Scientific Method in Practice © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  13. Step 1. Identify a significant problem or ask a meaningful question in such a way that there is a conceivable answer. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  14. Step 2. Attempt to answer the question posed in step 1 above by gathering relevant information and making observations. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  15. Step 3. Propose a solution to the problem or answer to the question as a scientific hypothesis. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  16. Step 4. Test the hypothesis to allow corroboration and establishment of validity. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  17. Step 5. Accept, reject, abandon, or modify the hypothesis. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  18. Step 6. Construct, support, or cast doubt on a scientific theory © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  19. The Scientific Method in Practice Step 1: Identify Significant Problem or Ask Meaningful Question Step 2: Attempt to Answer Question orPose Solution to Problem Step 3: Propose Solution to ProblemorAnswer to Questionas a Scientific Hypothesis Continued ... © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  20. The Scientific Method in Practice (cont’d) Step 4: Test Hypothesis to Allow Corroboration andValidity Step 5: Accept, Reject, Abandon, or Modify Hypothesis Modify RejectAbandon Accept Step 6: Construct, Support, or Cast Doubt on a Scientific Theory © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  21. Research, Technology Development and Production © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  22. Technology Technology: Systematic application of scientific knowledge to practical tasks. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  23. Technology Pure research, technology development, and production and marketing have substantial overlap in time. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  24. Use of Graduate Research Assistants © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  25. Pros Training of future scientists Hands-on research Financial support for graduate students Low cost to Principal Investigator © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  26. Incentives for graduate enrollment Increased research capacity New science in graduate curriculum © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  27. Cons Narrow focus of graduate experience (reduced breadth) Possible delay in completing graduate program © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  28. Goal-oriented research results May not contribute to scientific merit as viewed by reviewers © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  29. Identifying and Prioritizing Research Needs © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  30. Objectives © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  31. Examine the need and approach for defining realistic research problems Recognize the need and establish methods for stakeholder input into identifying research problems © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  32. Examine the need for determining in advance the resources needed to conduct a research project © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  33. Defining Problems Example 3.1 Statement of the Problem: Insect Z.z. defoliation of Species 4 Reason for choosing this topic: a) commercial value b) tree damage (cont‘d on next slide) © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  34. Reason for choosing this topic: (cont‘d) c) percent of species A in commercial forests of region d) recreation impact e) need for control measures f) etc. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  35. Example 3.2 Restatement of the Problem Reasons: a) species A is a commercially valuable tree species b) insect defoliation is resulting in growth reduction and death of trees (cont‘d on next slide) © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  36. c) species A is the dominant tree species in 45% of the commercial forests in region Y d) defoliation is reducing the recreation value in the parks in the region e) there are also current control measures for controlling insect Z.z on species A f) etc. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  37. Example 3.3 An A BUT B Statement: There is a need to prevent defoliation of large areas of tree species A by insect Z.z in region Y, BUT, there are no effective and economical control measures for this insect. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  38. Key Stakeholder Groups and Their Functions in Forest Research © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  39. Stakeholders are defined as people, groups, or organizations that have a claim on the research organization’s (and individual researcher’s) attention, resources or output, or are affected by that output. Lundgren,et al., 1994 © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  40. Funders and Legislators Evaluate budget and funding requests for research programs Provide funds for research © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  41. Higher-level Administrators and Policy Makers Prepare and justify budget requests Administer laws, regulations Allocate appropriations © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  42. Research Managers Plan and manage research programs Prepare and justify budget requests for specific research projects, programs, activities © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  43. Research Scientists Plan and do research Disseminate research findings © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  44. Research Disseminators Disseminate new knowledge and technologies resulting from research Provide feedback from users to scientists © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  45. Users of Research Results Adopt and adapt research results Implement new technologies © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  46. Civil Society / (General Public) Receive wanted and unwanted effects from the use of research results Affect funding decisions © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  47. Stakeholder Analysis © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  48. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  49. © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

  50. Stakeholder What do they Criteria they According want from use to evaluate to these the the criteria, researcher? researcher's how is the performance. researcher performing? International - Specific - Progress Unknown in Research research reports this example Donor activities - Evaluations Organizations - Reports and - Publications results - Useful results - Well-conducted studies © C.P.P. Reid, Univ. ArizonaM. Kleine, IUFRO-SPDCUpdate 2004

More Related