SGS Research Grant Proposal

1. SGS Research Grant Proposal Denis M Medeiros Dean, School of Graduate Studies UMKC

2. Rules of the Game • Maximum request is $7500 to begin July 1, 2014 • Maximum length of proposal is 4 pages that include references, budget, and budget justification • One extra page for tables and/or figures • Pay attention to margin requirements (1 inch) and 12 point font. • Submit as a pdf with cover page

3. Cover Page • Important that this be accurate. • Don’t forget your title! • Complete the required information such as anticipated graduation date and the name of your major adviser. • Need your signature and that of your major adviser • Complete information on previous degrees awarded • List any academic honors, awards, or special recognitions received. • Publications, Presentations, Creative/Artistic work

4. Proposal Outline I. Introduction • Problem statement • Goals and Objectives • Significance of Research/Creative Activity II. Background and Literature Review III. Methods or Approach IV. Plans for dissemination of results • Budget request • Budget justification • References

5. Introduction • This is where you entice the reader and sell them on your idea. • Most important part of the entire proposal. • Should be ½ to 1/3 of a page—keep it short but to the point! • What is the issue you are researching as the problem statement. • Proposals that have a theoretical basis do better. • Problem addressed should be focused—common mistake is that new grant writers try to do too much • State the goal of the current proposal. In this case, one goal may be enough. • Significance can be thought of: • What gaps in our knowledge about the issue will be closed OR • How will doing the research move the field forward • The significance should be the last part of the Introduction statement

6. Background and Literature review • Keep to about 1 page (can be longer if you are including tables and figures from others—remember to cite sources of other data used!). • Give the reader a sense of what previous research has been conducted • Challenge is to cite only the most salient references or studies • Can use sub-headings • Identify from the literature cited what information is missing that your proposal will address. • Assert an optimistic tone and one of enthusiasm

7. Methods or Approach • Can use an outline form or subheadings • Include a design statement if appropriate: Design is what will be done • Can use a diagram to get an idea across • Methods is how it will be done • Give an introductory statement to communicate the logic of the project, subjects, samples, etc • What will be done to accomplish the goal(s) of the proposal? • Start with the statement “The design will be outlined first, followed by description of the methods to be used” if appropriate • Can state what the rationale is for the design • Next section should be a brief description of the methods used.

8. Methods or Approach (cont’d) • Methods can include issues such as the following • Recruitment of subjects • Type of animals used and what will be done • Development of a questionnaire and determining its validity • Statistics used to analyze data • Timeline

9. Dissemination of results • Publication • Presentation • Workshop • Exhibit • Does not have to be more than one to two sentences

10. Budget request • Use a table subdivided into items such as • Personnel (stipend requested, hourly wages, etc) • Materials to be purchased to conduct the research • Travel either for collecting data or going to a meeting • Contractual---may need to contract out an analysis of some type • Publication cost if applicable

11. Budget Justification • For each item listed in your budget, explain why you need the item requested and how you determined the amount! • You don’t need to complete each category • If you are requesting the full $7500 as a stipend, explain why you need it. Some on a GTA may want to go from a 0.5 to a 0.25 GTA and use the other dollars to support themselves so they can devote more time to their research. • Others may not need this as a stipend but want to hire an undergraduate student to help them out. • See directions on how to calculate hourly wages with fringe benefits included.

12. references • Are numerous ways of doing this • Include at least • Author(s) name(s) • Publication date • Title of article and journal, book • Volume and page numbers