HU 164, Lecture 4

1. HU 164, Lecture 4 Research Proposal Fall 2012/13

2. New Questions Arise Question Identified Results Interpreted Hypotheses Formed Data Collected Research Plan Closed-loop conceptualization of the research process (Drew, Hardman, and Hart, 1996) HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

3. Title Page Abstract Table of Contents Introduction Background Proposed Research Description of Relevant Resources References Personnel Budget Appendices Generic Research Proposal HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

4. Useful Resource • Colorado State University, Writing Guide: Engineering Proposals http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/documents/proposal/ • University of Michigan, Proposal Writing Guide http://www.drda.umich.edu/proposals/PWG/pwgcontents.html • Literature Review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2d7y_r65HU&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU2uqFY-l4s&feature=related HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

5. Budget • The budget section may require not only the tabular budget but also a budget summary and explanation or "budget justification" if the budget is complicated or if all its details are not made completely clear by the text of the proposal. • Typical divisions of a research budget are: • personnel, • equipment, • supplies, • travel, and • indirect costs. Other categories, of course, can be added as needed. HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

6. Title • A good title is usually a compromise between conciseness and explicitness. • One good way to cut the length of titles is to avoid words that add nothing to a reader's understanding, such as • "Studies on...," "Investigations...," or • "Research on Some Problems in...." HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

7. Abstract • Though it appears first, the abstract should be written last, as a concise summary of the proposal. • The abstract speaks for the proposal when it is separated from it, provides the reader with his first impression of the request. Thus it is the most important single element in the proposal. • It includes • the major objectives of the proposed research and • the procedures to be followed in meeting these objectives. HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

8. Introduction • It starts with what is being proposed and then proceeds to introduce the subject to a stranger. You should not assume that your reader is familiar with your subject. • In introducing the research problem, it is sometimes helpful to say what it is not, especially, if it could easily be confused with related work. • You may also need to explain the underlying assumption of your research and the hypotheses you will be using. HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

9. Background • This section may not be necessary if the proposal is relatively simple and if the introduction can present the relevant background in a few sentences. • If previous or related work must be discussed in some detail, however, or if the literature of the subject must be reviewed, a background or literature review section is desirable. • Discussions of work done by others should therefore lead the reader to a clear impression of how you will be building upon what has already been done and how your work differs from theirs. HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

10. Proposed Research • This section, which may need several subsections, is, of course, the heart of the proposal and is the primary concern of the technical reviewers. Suggestions: • Be realistic. • If your first year must be spent developing an analytical method or laying groundwork, spell that out as Phase 1. Then at the end of the year you will be able to report that you have accomplished something and are ready to undertake Phase 2. • Be as detailed as possible about the schedule of the proposed work. (Milestones) • Be specific about the means of gathering and evaluating the data. HU164_Lect3_Research Planning

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