Research Planning >>>
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Research Plan - Planning - when you plan:
- Address each of the sponsor’s review criterions.
- Show central focus and coherent direction.
- Familiarize yourself with common review problems and solutions.
Research Plan - Process - when you write:
- Start with an outline, and then worked on developing each section.
- Present information logically and clearly.
- Maintain balance between technical and non-technical language in your writing.
- Keep both audiences in mind (primary reader and other reviewers).
- Highlight the importance and innovation of the project.
- Follow the exact format specified in the instructions.
- Explain which gaps in science/service project would fill.
- Refer to the literature thoroughly and thoughtfully.
- State hypothesis in the specific aims and the abstract, and provide a logical rationale.
- Prepare an appropriate budget, following both the sponsor’s and CNU’s guidelines.
- Provide all necessary information for human subjects review approval if applicable.
- Include a timetable for the proposed research.
- Keep in mind the page length, type size and margins required by the sponsor.
- Follow the instructions in the application guidelines to the letter.
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Research Plan - Specific Aims:
- Write this section in clear, non-technical terms.
- Begin this section by stating the general purpose or objectives of your research.
- Limit to three or four specific aims.
- Specify aims and objectives support and test your hypothesis.
- Present alternatives to hypothesis/problem and the reasons for your approach.
- List the experiments/processes to support each aim.
- Mention what staff you will need to accomplish aims.
- Organize and define aims to relate to methods.
Research Plan - Background & Significance:
- Write this section in clear, non-technical terms that all reviewers will understand.
- Show how your research is innovative, unique.
- Explain why project is worth funding.
- Convey the significance of research and how it will increase knowledge in the field.
- Include background information about the field.
- Does the literature section show reviewers your understanding of the field?
- Show the gaps, discrepancies, or roadblocks in the field.
Research Plan - Preliminary Data:
- Show preliminary data to support the hypothesis/project.
- Show the feasibility of the project.
- Focus on your own preliminary data, or when using results from other sources, draw a clear distinction between yours and theirs.
- Explain how the results from preliminary studies are valid and how they will be expanded.
- Interpret results critically and provide alternative meanings for them.
- Explain how early work/experience prepares you for this new project.
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