Upload
edanz-group
View
198
Download
2
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Trevor Lane, PhD Andrew Jackson, PhD
Waseda University
29 June 2015
Session 2 – Writing Effective Grants
Seminar series
May 30 Ethics
June 29 Writing effective grants
September Increasing your publication success
October Increasing your publication success
November Guidance for early career researchers
December Presenting social science research
January Presenting science/technology research
Be an effective communicator
You need convince the funder that your study deserves to be funded
Consider a relevant problem
Logically organize your research plan
Effectively communicate
your ideas
Before you begin
Section 1
Customer Service Before you begin Who is evaluating your grant?
Multidisciplinary
International
Different ages
Needs to be clear to those outside immediate field
Cultural considerations
Older: more conservative Younger: more flexible/liberal
Customer Service Before you begin What are they evaluating?
Three important aspects that will be evaluated:
1. Does this study need to be done?
2. Will the study be conducted well?
3. How will this study be useful?
Customer Service Before you begin Identify a problem
Thoroughly evaluate the literature • Primary and secondary
Identify knowledge gaps • Should be focused (one-sentence rule) • Not yet addressed • Already addressed, but not successfully
Customer Service Before you begin Avoid research waste
Lancet 2009; 374: 86–89
~85% of biomedical research is waste
• Not addressing relevant questions • Incomplete review of the literature • Inappropriate methodology • Incomplete reporting • Unpublished
Customer Service Before you begin
Lancet 2009; 374: 86–89
~85% of biomedical research is waste
• Not addressing relevant questions • Incomplete review of the literature • Inappropriate methodology • Incomplete reporting • Unpublished
Avoid research waste
Customer Service Before you begin
Horn & Limburg. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000; 1: CD001928.
Systematic review of 28 clinical trials (7521 patients): are calcium antagonists
effective for acute ischemic stroke?
“no difference between people given calcium antagonists and those who were not, in terms
of death or disability”
Avoid research waste
Customer Service Before you begin
Horn et al. Stroke. 2001; 32: 2433–2438.
Did animal studies show calcium antagonists were effective in treating acute ischemic stroke?
(20 studies)
“We conclude that the results of the animal experiments reviewed in the present investigation
did not show convincing empirical evidence to substantiate the decision for trials with
nimodipine in stroke patients.”
Avoid research waste
Customer Service Before you begin Avoid research waste
What other similar grants have been funded?
https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/en/
Customer Service Before you begin Avoid research waste
What other similar grants have been funded?
Customer Service Before you begin Specify objectives for grants
1. Realistic solution to the problem
2. Cost effective
3. Competence: you have ability to complete project
Three key points for the funding agency:
Customer Service Before you begin Finding grants
Public Government agencies
Private Foundations, charities
Mitsubishi Foundation1
Konosuke Matsushita Memorial Foundation2
Search online and/or discuss with colleagues
Important! a
Find grants whose aims are similar in scope as your project
1. http://www.mitsubishi-zaidan.jp/en/ 2. http://matsushita-konosuke-zaidan.or.jp/en/works/research/promotion_research_01.html
Customer Service Before you begin Finding grants
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/grants05_2014.html
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
FY2014
Customer Service Before you begin Competition is increasing
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/kakenhi_pamph_e.pdf
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Customer Service Before you begin Funding is not increasing
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/kakenhi_pamph_e.pdf
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Customer Service Before you begin Finding grants
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-kadai/index.html 1. http://www.mext.go.jp/component/b_menu/shingi/toushin/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2012/12/13/1325360_2_1.pdf
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Topic-Setting Program to Advance Cutting-Edge Humanities and Social Sciences Research
• Based on 2012 report to advance social sciences1
• Encourage collaborative research in three areas: 1. Interdisciplinary research with other sciences 2. Collaborations making societal contributions 3. International collaborations to advance social sciences
Customer Service Before you begin Evaluate your resources
Table Organize your methodology
What will you need to do to reach your objectives?
Step What you need to do
Method used Time required
Who will do it
Required materials
1 Make questionnaire
Access archives 4 weeks Person X/Y Travel costs
2 Validate questionnaire
Test in sample population
8 weeks Person Y/Z Compensation
3 Enroll participants, demographics
Contact online, meet in person
4 weeks Person X/Z Travel costs
4 Data analysis Quantification and statistical analysis
6 weeks ? ?
Establish collaboration!
Customer Service Before you begin Statistical considerations
Participants Power calculation
for sample size
Data analysis Sample distribution,
endpoints, group number
Consult with a statistician!
Shows you have thoroughly thought about the results you will receive and how to analyze them
Customer Service Before you begin Feedback
Get feedback from colleagues before submitting your proposal
Find 2–3 non-competitive colleagues in your field
Introduce the topic and objectives of your proposal
Set a date at which you will send it to them • >3 months before the submission deadline
Revise your proposal based on their feedback
Effective writing
Section 2
Effective writing Improving readability
Use short sentences Limit your sentences to 15–20 words
One idea per sentence
Use active voice Simpler, more direct, and easier to read
APA Style: “Use the active voice rather than the passive voice” (www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/effective-verb-use.aspx)
Effective writing
In fact, the shortage of clean and fresh water is one of most pervasive problems afflicting human society. The situation deteriorates with increasing population and industrialization. Desalination is one viable solution to produce fresh water from salty water. Conventional desalination methods, including reverse osmosis and thermal desalination, encounter two major obstacles—high energy consumption and expensive infrastructure.
Paragraph structure
Topic sentence Introduce topic of paragraph
Supporting sentences Develop topic
Although water is abundant on earth, 98% of the available water resource is in the form of salty water.
Concluding sentence Why topic is important
Therefore, identification of more efficient and cost-effective desalination methods are necessary.
Modified from: Zhu et al. Sci Rep. 2013; 3: 3163.
Effective writing Additional tips to improve readability
Repetition • Identify key phrases in grant aims • Repeat throughout your grant proposal
Parallel structure
• Research problem and objectives • Within your paragraphs (assert and justify) • Summary and main text
Consistency • Use the same terminology throughout • Especially with multiple authors
Effective writing Additional tips to make an impact
Start your grant proposal with a thought-provoking statement
Questions “Are local government officials affecting
the birth rates in rural Japan?”
Conflicts “New local Japanese government policies were expected to increase birth rates in rural communities—yet these rates continue to fall.”
Effective writing Additional tips to make an impact
Start your grant proposal with a thought-provoking statement
“Does culture, defined as the shared knowledge guiding social interaction and other behaviors within a social group, influence individual psychobiological adaptation? Can the links between culture, individual behavior, and individual psychobiological adaptation be traced? This continues to be a fundamental question facing anthropology.”
Good example
http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/dressler/Dressler%20Brazil%20NSF.pdf
Activity 1: Logical organization
Organize these 5 sentences into a logical first paragraph of a grant proposal
A. Therefore, cellulose nanopaper is one of the best candidates for the future of electronic components.
B. Paper electronics can be manufactured on foldable nanopaper using high-volume and high-speed printing technology.
C. Although there is much concern regarding a sustainable and clean society—current manufacturing technologies for electronic devices have yet to meet these goals.
D. Moreover, these paper devices are lightweight and flexible enough to carry in personal bags.
E. To address this important issue, we previously developed cellulose nanopaper using only cellulose nanofibers that can be used for ‘paper electronics’.
Activity 1
Organize these 5 sentences into a logical first paragraph of a grant proposal
Although there is much concern regarding a sustainable and clean society—current manufacturing technologies for electronic devices have yet to meet these goals.
C
To address this important issue, we previously developed cellulose nanopaper using only cellulose nanofibers that can be used for ‘paper electronics’. E
Paper electronics can be manufactured on foldable nanopaper using high-volume and high-speed printing technology.
B
Moreover, these paper devices are lightweight and flexible enough to carry in personal bags. D
Therefore, cellulose nanopaper is one of the best candidates for the future of electronic components. A
Conflict statement
Logical development of ideas
Strong concluding statement
Break
Any questions?
Follow us on Twitter
@EdanzEditing
Like us on Facebook
facebook.com/EdanzEditing
Download and further reading edanzediting.co.jp/waseda150629
Logically organizing your research plan
Section 3
Research plan Essential information
Proposal summary
Background
Purpose
Plan
Results/implications
Budget/timeline
Dissemination
Credentials
Reference letters
Research plan Additional info
Research plan Well-defined research question
Break general question into 3–4 more concise questions
1. How are local government policies developed? 2. How are local government policies implemented? 3. How is efficacy of these policies monitored? 4. How are these policies updated?
“How do local government policies affect birth rates in rural Japan?”
Establishes focus
Research plan
• Review background
• State problem and objectives
• Describe methodology
• Expected results
• Significance and implications
1-page summary Usually 2–4 paragraphs
Proposal summary
Research plan Proposal summary
JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research Summary
Purpose and Background
Why this study needs to be done
Research methods
How you will perform the study
Expected results and significance
Key outcomes and implications
Additional information: relevant publications, study duration, requested budget, contact information
Research plan
Important to remember!
Often only section read by grant committee before sending for review
Answer three key questions:
1. What will be learned? 2. Why is this worth knowing? 3. How will conclusions be validated?
Proposal summary
Research plan Background
General introduction
Aims
Current state of the field
Problem in the field
Research plan Background – General introduction
Introduce broadly to set context
• Establish interest in the topic
• Why is this topic important/relevant?
• Why is this topic worth funding?
Topic: Why birth rates in rural Japan are declining
Importance: Affects domestic food production
Research plan Background – Current state of the field
Thorough literature review
• What has been done previously?
• What are the current solutions?
• What are the problems/limitations of these solutions?
• What are the active debates?
Tip! Review variety of databases: Scopus, Web of Science,
Periodical Index, Social Science Citation Index, Annual Reviews, Modern Language Association International Index
Research plan Background – Problem in the field
Important, but solvable, problem
Problem should be focused
“Why are birth rates declining in rural areas in Japan?”
Better: “How do local government policies affect the birth rates in rural Japan?”
One-sentence rule: You should be able to describe your research problem in one sentence
Research plan Study purpose
Concrete goals
• Not ‘fishing expedition’ • Goals used to evaluate progress • Not preconceived
Bad examples
• “Determine why birth rates in rural Japan are declining.”
• “We will show that poor implementation of local government policies is responsible for the declining birth rates in rural Japan.”
Research plan Study purpose
Discuss the 3–4 broken down questions
“In this study, we have four objectives:
1. Evaluate how local government policies are developed
2. Investigate how local government policies are implemented
3. Determine how the efficacy of these policies is monitored
4. Assess how these policies are updated”
Make it clear how you will solve the problem
Research plan Study purpose
Important points to remember
Emphasize who are the beneficiaries, and how will they be affected?
• Beneficiaries are Japanese residents in rural areas.
• Your study may help increase birth rates and revitalize their community/economy.
Research plan Study purpose
Important points to remember
If novel solution, need to emphasize why this has not been done before:
Turning points or breakthroughs allowing you to now address this problem?
“Recently, government records in many rural areas in Japan have become digitized, allowing for a large-scale comparative analysis.”
Research plan Study purpose
Important points to remember
How will this study help to advance the field?
• Will it help answer a current debate?
• Will it help establish a new idea or an alternative viewpoint on an existing idea?
“This study will help resolve the current issue of whether government policies are directly influencing birth rates in rural Japanese areas.”
Research plan Proposed plan
Methodology
Before writing this section:
• Make a flowchart to show how study conducted
• Make a table showing who will do what, time allocation, and deliverables
Important points: Sample selection and size
Inclusion and exclusion criteria Statistical tests
Research plan Proposed plan
Logically describe methodology: Same order as objectives
Who/what used
Be specific: e.g., which towns/records Justification: e.g., publicly available
How it will be done
Describe techniques New techniques: why & validation
Data analysis
Quantification methods Statistical tests: significance and power
Research plan Proposed plan
Important points!
Innovation May be other similar studies/grants
• How is yours different? • Demonstrate yours is most effective
Competency Demonstrate expertise in proposed
techniques (e.g., previously published)
Appendices Do not put lengthy technical details in
your main text—difficult to read!
Research plan Preliminary results
Pilot studies
• Validates study hypothesis • Shows have available resources • Demonstrates expertise and technical efficacy • Generates interest in the proposed plan
Can also help justify collaborations
Research plan Expected results & significance
Expectation based on logic/previous publication
“Because the inefficient implementation of government policies has been shown to influence literacy rates in rural communities in Spain13, we expect this may also be a factor affecting birth rates in rural Japan.”
Implications and future directions
“The results obtained from this proposed study will help local governments more effectively implement new policies to increase birth rates in rural areas. It will also be interesting to determine if other…”
Research plan Limitations
Limitations in the study design
Limitations in the data analysis
What are you going to do to control for these limitations?
Establish your expertise in the field
Research plan Budget
Salaries Operating costs Travel
Equipment Information systems Consumables
• Review guidelines to determine what is covered • Show costs in a table
Consider all costs associated with this study
Research plan Example budget
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/ grant-proposals-or-give-me-the-money/
Justify all costs
Research plan Dissemination
What are your deliverables? (Optional)
Publication type
Book or journal articles? Target journals
Readership Who is your target audience?
Timeline Will each objective be separate paper?
When and how long to write?
Research plan Credentials
Establish trust and confidence
Updated CV: • Publications • Honors/awards • Previously received grants
(especially if from same funder)
Related previous publications
Technical competency
Applicable collaborations
Research plan Reference letters
Who to ask • Young researchers: former advisors • Advanced researchers: collaborators,
journal editors, society members
When to ask
• Early, before you finish writing • Prepare one-page summary:
Summarize background/problem Present objectives/research plan Describe significance
Discuss • Discuss your research plan • Encourage questions/suggestions
Activity 2
You are now members of a grant review committee and need to determine which
grants will go for external review.
1. Read the two proposals
2. In groups, discuss which one should be sent for review
3. What is wrong with the other?
Activity
Proposal 1
1. Fishing expedition • What is the research problem? • What are the specific aims? • What are the expected outcomes?
2. Unclear methodology • ‘Analyze economically challenged participants’? • ‘Conduct surveys’? • ‘Perform panel surveys’?
Unclear
Activity
Proposal 2
1. Purpose and Background • Clear background, research problem, and aims • Aims at the end more clear?
2. Methodology • Identify which surveys and what is evaluated • Clearly discuss what research teams will evaluate
3. Expected Achievements and Significance • Clear outcomes, strong but not preconceived • Clear significance and worldwide implications
Be an effective communicator
You need to convince the grant agency that your study deserves to be funded
Consider a relevant problem
Logically organize your research plan
Effectively communicate your ideas
Thank you!
Any questions?
Follow us on Twitter
@EdanzEditing
Like us on Facebook
facebook.com/EdanzEditing
Download and further reading edanzediting.co.jp/waseda150629
Trevor Lane: [email protected] Andrew Jackson: [email protected]