Standard Research Grant Writing Seminar

1. Standard Research Grant Writing Seminar Information session given at Ryerson University by Terry Lee McPherson June 12, 2007

2. Grant Writing Seminar What is New at SSHRC: • New president : Chad Gaffield (since Sept 2006) • $11 million targeted for research & research training in management, business and finance • Notice of Intent to Apply (NOI) • 60 days for Appeals

3. Grant Writing Seminar 2006-2007 Standard Research Grants Competition Results • Success rate of 33.2%, variation across Committees • 2,534 applications, 841 awards • Average three-year award of $76,206 • 65% cap on Category 1 and 4A applications

4. Grant Writing Seminar Objectives of the Standard Research Grants Program • Peer-reviewed independent programs of research • Training of future researchers • New theoretical or methodological approaches • Disciplinary and multidisciplinary research • Communication of research results both within & beyond academia

5. Grant Writing Seminar Characteristics • Three-year cycle • Team and individual applications • Funding of a Program of Research • $100,000 per year or $250,000 over 3 years

6. Grant Writing Seminar Eligibility • Affiliation with a Canadian post-secondary institution • Submission of the Final Research Report • Current students not eligible • Postdoctoral applicants – affiliation by April 15 • PhD candidates – met PhD requirements by April 1 & has affiliation • Citizenship: no longer an issue • SSHRC Mandate • Transfer of applications to NSERC • Ineligible applications – CIHR mandate

7. Grant Writing Seminar New Scholar Category • Has not been awarded, as a principal investigator, an SRG, MCRI or a Strategic Grant AND at least one of: • Completed highest degree less than five years OR • Held tenure-track position less than 5 years OR • Never had a tenure-track position OR • Career interrupted or delayed for family reasons • Benefit: Score weighting

8. Grant Writing Seminar Adjudication Committees • 24 committees • Committee changes for 2008-2009: • 3 Management Committees • New: Committee 29 (Marketing, international business, management of information systems, business policy) • Modified: Committee 21 (Human resources management, organizational studies; industrial relations, management) • Modified: Committee 22 (Accounting, finance, management science, productions & operations management)

9. Grant Writing Seminar Adjudication Committees • 2 Psychology Committees: • Modified: Committee 10 (Psychology 1) - Social, personality and individual differences; behavioural, community and environmental, industrial/organizational, cultural • Modified: Committee 27 (Psychology 2) - Counselling, developmental, human assessment and psychometrics, psychotherapy, sports and health • 3 Education Committees • Committees 12, 17 & 28 same sub-disciplines as 2007

10. Grant Writing Seminar Choosing Committee Members • Overall competence and credibility • Scholarly stature of the individual nominees • Appropriate representation on the basis of: • areas of expertise • small/mid-size/large university • geographical region • language • gender

11. Grant Writing Seminar Adjudication Committees • Selecting a Committee • Research Discipline – SSHRC Web site • Review Committee Members list • Past Awards – Awards Search Engine • Call your Program Officer • Committee 15 (Interdisciplinary & Multidisciplinary Studies) • Not a “catch-all” • Contact the Program Officer • Fully explain the inter / multidisciplinary nature of the proposal

12. Grant Writing Seminar Choosing External Assessors • Goal - Two Assessors per file • Suggested Assessors • Conflicts of interest

13. Grant Writing Seminar Evaluation Criteria (Record of Research) • Over the last 6 years, unless career interruption • Quality and significance of published work • Originality and impact of previous research • Quantity of research activity • Importance of other scholarly activities • Recent output • Dissemination to non-academic audiences • Productivity from previous grant(s) • Training of future researchers

14. Grant Writing Seminar Evaluation Criteria (Program of Research) • Originality & contribution to advancement of knowledge • Appropriateness of the theoretical approaches/framework • Appropriateness of the research strategies/methodologies • Good literature review • Suitability of plans to communicate research results • The nature and extent of research training

15. Grant Writing Seminar Preparation • Notice of Intent to Apply (NOI) • On-Line Mid-June • Deadline August 14th • Optional & Not Binding • On-line, Very brief, easy to fill-out

16. Grant Writing Seminar Preparation • Do not submit a “premature” proposal • Invest time in the preparation of your proposal • Ensure that there are no errors • Present a well-written and carefully crafted proposal

17. Grant Writing Seminar Overall Presentation • Convey and inspire confidence • Present a challenging topic • Clearly establish the need for the research • Demonstrate its importance and originality • Strike a balance between ambition and realism

18. Grant Writing Seminar Overall Presentation (continued) • Prepare your proposal with the Assessors and Committee in mind • Demonstrate how this new research builds upon past work • Have your grant proposal read by colleagues who have been successful in previous SRG competitions • Follow the application and CV instructions

19. Grant Writing Seminar Summary Page • Clearly indicate the purpose, the objectives, the context and potential impact of the proposed research • Written for Non-Specialists

20. Grant Writing Seminar Statement of Objectives & Theoretical Framework • Clear and precise objectives • Clear theoretical or conceptual framework • Define all key terms or concepts • Provide a complete literature review • Append a list of all references cited

21. Grant Writing Seminar Methodology • Explain and fully justify methodology • Synergy between objectives / hypotheses and methodology

22. Grant Writing Seminar Presenting your Curriculum Vitae • 60% of the score to the Record of Research Achievement for Regular Scholars • Follow the instructions • Organize your publications – headings, refereed, etc. • Avoid “inflating” the CV • Demonstrate productivity from previous grants

23. Grant Writing Seminar Extenuating Circumstances / Career Interruptions • Serious health problems, death of a loved one, ageing parents, and leave (e.g. child birth, parental, adoption leave…)

24. Grant Writing Seminar Budget • Reasonable and fully justified budget • Check the list of eligible and ineligible expenses • Explain the role of students • Link between research objectives and budget

25. Grant Writing Seminar Team Applications • MYTH: SSHRC favors team applications • Applicant should demonstrate the value of team application • Clearly define each member’s role • Each member is assessed

26. Grant Writing Seminar Committee Comments: The Top 4 Critiques • Incomplete or outdated literature review • Lack of theoretical rationale • Lack of specificity and justification in the methodology • No link between the conceptual framework and the methodology

27. Grant Writing Seminar Peer Review Process • Peer review fatigue: • Recruiting committee members • Finding external assessors • Teleconference and benchmark files • Ranking • Streamlining the adjudication meetings - Top 15% • Flagging system

28. Grant Writing Seminar Your Proposal – Things to Avoid • Resubmitting the same application without taking into consideration previous committee’s comments • Criticising committee members, other scholars • Not clearly defining team members & student roles & responsibilities • Personal or miscellaneous information that is neither requested nor relevant to the application • Space saving: font, margins, paragraph breaks, etc.

29. Grant Writing Seminar Your Research Record –Things to Remember • Indicate productivity from past SSHRC grant (s) • List your publications only once • List only articles that are in the 6 year time frame • Include page #’s & be consistent in your method of referencing

30. Grant Writing Seminar Your Research Record –Things to Avoid • The “Trust Me” application - Assume your record speaks for itself, and submit an underdeveloped program of research • Include a prominent researcher as a Co-Applicant but do not give him/her a clearly defined role • Exaggerated Claims: • No other research has been done • You have nothing to learn from recent scholarship

31. Grant Writing Seminar Your Budget –Things to Avoid • Incorrect calculations • Use non-student personnel, without proper justification • Ask for an $8,000 notebook when all you need is a simple word processor • Include ineligible expenses in your budget • Plan to attend many conferences and fly business class

32. Grant Writing Seminar Other SSHRC Programs & Initiatives • Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) • Infrastructure funding • Joint review process • Separate application – see CFI website • Sport Participation Research Initiative • SRG Application • SRG Category 4A list to Sport Canada

33. Grant Writing Seminar How to stay informed and involved? • Visit the web site for regular updates. www.sshrc.ca • Contact your Program Officer