How to write successful proposal By: Dr Faisal Al-Allaf

Dr. Faisal Al-AllafDean, Deanship of Scientific Research

Head, Science and Technology Unit

[email protected]/Fax: 5271622 or 5270000 Ext: 4197/4198

How to Write Successful

Research Proposal

mailto:[email protected]

29/06/1436 Dr. Faisal Al-Allaf, [email protected] 2

Dealing with writing blocks

No time

Personal problems or illness

Brain is recharging, idea are percolating

You do not know what to do

You do not know where to begin


Getting Ready to Write

Pre-write

Write inside out

Follow the guidelines of the funding agencies

Establish a timetable and meet periodically

Find a model proposal

Work from an outline

Review, pretest, and revise repeatedly


Elements of a Proposal

Title

Abstract or summary

Introduction

Problem or needs statement

Project goals and objectives

Literature review

Project method or design

Project evaluation

Project management

Organizational capabilities

Project budget

Resumes of Applicants


Title of the study

Use a reflective & informative title

Example: The national screening programfor genetic mutations causing haemophiliaamong Saudi population and thedevelopment of PCR/HRM moleculardiagnostic test


Abstract or Summary Must not exceed one page in length (max. 500 words)

It should provide a coherent, clear and concise description of the research activity

It should describe the objectives and methods to be adopted

Describe the expected broader impacts on development and society

It should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields

Understandable to scientifically/technically literate lay readers

It should not contain any confidential information

Write the abstract last

No references required

Do NOT use abbreviations


INTRODUCTION This section should explain the significance of the research issues

involved.

Approximately 2-3 pages

It should provide a brief background to the research proposal

Explaining the importance of the research being proposed

Scope of work and conditions

A description of expected results

May or may not include references


How to outline your introduction

Tips for Writing the Introduction

Be concise, specific and compelling

Build creditability for your organization

Establish a context for your problem statement

Describe the project components – who, what,

where, when, why, and how much


Tips for the Problem Statement

Use statistics to support existence of your problem orissue

Make a connection between the issue and yourorganization

Make a case for your project locally and nationally

Demonstrate your knowledge of the issue or problem

Set up the delivery of your goals and objectives


OBJECTIVES The objectives should be precisely and clearly defined what is

the question that this proposal addresses

The significance of expected results

It should be coherent, well planned and linked to tangible and

measurable deliverables

(Specific, Measurable, Action oriented, Realistic, Time oriented)

Goals are general and offer the evaluator an understanding of the

intent of your program

Objectives are specific, measurable outcomes. They should be

realistic, attainable and help solving the problem or address the

issue


Why do a Literature Review? The purpose of a literature review is to help you

To define and limit the problem

To place the study in a historical perspective

To explain how the question to be investigated fits into thelarger picture

To asks why to approached the topic this way

To allows the readers to be brought up to date regarding thestate of research in the field and familiarizes them to anycontrasting perspectives and viewpoints on the topic.


Literature Review: Background and

Significance

Literature review is a section which sets the proposed study in

context and gives its rationale

It is a classification and evaluation of what accredited scholars and

researchers have written on a topic, organized chronologically or

according to the research objectives

This section cites previous research that is relevant and indicates

the problems with prior research and what uncertainties remain

It specifies how the findings of the proposed study will help resolve

these uncertainties and lead to new scientific knowledge and

influence practice guidelines or public health policy.


What is a Literature Review? Literature review is a critical reading (searching), analyses

(assessing) and summarizing (integrating) of peer reviewed articlesabout a specific topic to determine the following:

What is known about the topic?

How it is correlated with the research question?

What kind of answers will the study provide?

It is not a list of all the books and papers that you have read.

You must not simply dedicate a paragraph or page to each article in turn, just reporting on their content.

Avoid unnecessary duplication


Components of Literature

Review Literature search (searching): Find materials relevant to the

subject and avoid irrelevant references

Your favorite search engine may not find most of the relevantliterature!

Place the study in a historical perspective and avoidunnecessary duplication

Data evaluation (assessing): Determine which literature makes asignificant contribution to the understanding of the topic.

Determine if the findings and conclusions should be relied uponand are not misleading (Evaluate research methods).


Components of Literature

Review Data interpretation (integrating): Discuss the findings and

conclusions of relevant literature

Determine the advantages and disadvantages of previously used

methodologies

To improve conceptual frameworks for research

Identify promising future research

The studies may exhibit apparent contradictions.

Findings should be related to previous knowledge and therefore,further research can be suggested


Effective Literature Review Compare and contrast different researchers' views on an issue

Group research that draw similar conclusions

Criticize aspects of methodology

Note areas in which authors are in disagreement

Highlight perfect studies

Highlight gaps in research

Show how your study relates to previous studies

Show how your study relates to the literature in general

Conclude by summarizing what the literature says

Caulley, 1992


Some Questions Think About

to Develop Literature Review What is known about the subject?

Are there any gaps in the knowledge of the subject?

Have areas of further study been identified by other researchers that you

may want to consider?

Is there consensus about the topic?

What aspects have generated significant debate on the topic?

What methods or problems were identified by others studying in the field

and how might they impact your research?

What is the most productive methodology for your research based on the

literature you have reviewed?

What is the current status of research in this area?

What sources of information or data were identified that might be useful

to you?


Remember

Not all relevant materials are published - you may need

to seek interviews with individual authors and ask for

access to unpublished documents.

Not all appropriate sources of information will be relevant

all of the time.


Plagiarism The deliberate or reckless representation/Publication of

another author's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions, and the representation of them as one's own original work

To avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use another person’s idea, opinion, or theory

any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings

any pieces of information—that are not common knowledge;

quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words

paraphrase of another person’s spoken or written words.

How to paraphrase & avoid plagiarism?

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/plagiarism.html

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/plagiarism.html


REFERENCES

References should be cited in the standard style used in

scientific/technical publications

Links to online versions may be provided together with

dates on which the material was accessed

Use endnotes or reference manager software


Characteristics of a Good

Literature Review

Clarity of the presentation

Clear outline

Meaningful subheadings

Point by point summaries

Concise tables

Simple diagram

Potential flaws


DESCRIPTION OF THE

PROPOSED WORK

Describe in details how the research questions raised by this

proposal will be tackled

It should outline the general plan of work, including the broad

design, methodology and expected outcomes

The content of this section should be structured under the following

headings:

Approach, tasks and phases

Research methodology

Management plan

Project execution


Approach, tasks and phases

Details of the approach utilized to achieve each objective

of the project should be clarified and illustrated.

Research tasks and activities should be divided into

groups of assignments, listed in logical sequence and

linked with the project objectives to be achieved.


Research methodology

Procedures and techniques with explanation why

considered the most suitable to the research in question

Detailed description of the experiments and

measurements

Methods to be used in data collection, analysis, and

interpretation

Limitations, potential pitfalls, constraints and

alternative plans that may be adopted in tracking such

challenges


Management Plan

Indicating how each member of the team would beinvolved (with durations) in executing specific tasksrelating to the project.

Identify and outline the role of collaborators orconsultations (if any).

Indicate various elements of the intended work plan; withphases, related tasks and outcomes, assignments,responsibilities, and dates of submission of progressand final technical reports.


PROJECT EXECUTIONCurrent Resources:

Provide information on current or pending funding of the proposed project

Equipments and instruments already available at the executing institution should be briefly described

Requested Resources:

Details of all requested human resources, equipments, materials and consumables

Details of transportation facilities and travel arrangements that may be needed in the execution of field work

special training required

Applicants must give details of all relevant costs


Values The relevance to the industrial base

A description of potential positive impacts on the economy andsociety at large as well as likely negative outcomes if any should beas clearly elucidated as possible

Benefits for education and training of students and youth

The career development of researchers; etc. may also be outlinedhere

It is worth mentioning in this section the targeted end users

The suitable mechanisms for utilization and implementation of theproject deliverables


Tips for the Budget Budget expenditures should correlate to objectives and methods

Timelines are often found at the budget section

Justify requests for salary

Should you plan to hire someone with the funding, include a position

description

A match shows commitment on your part

Budget Justification:

A detailed justification of the funding requested in each budget

Specify if the equipment and infrastructure to be purchased usingrequested funds would be used in other research projects


RESUMES

Limited to few pages

The CV should include information regardingprofessional preparation, appointments, publications,synergistic activities and collaborators and otheraffiliations.

Tips:

Shows qualifications

List other grants you have managed

Shows work ethic and commitment


Tips for Appendices

Letters of Support or Commitment. Commitment implies partnersthat will share responsibilities. Letters should be sent to you, theapplicant and CoI included in the proposal package. They shouldnot be sent separately to the funder.

Other attachments: Do not include unless they are requested


Tips for Final Checks

Read the proposal out loud

Go through your checklist

Triple check your attachments

Check your math, again

29/06/1436 Dr. Faisal Al-Allaf, [email protected] 3229/06/1436 32

THANK YOU

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How to write successful proposal By: Dr Faisal Al-Allaf

Education