Title: Crafting Strong Research Proposals

Authors: ldambros@uottawa.ca (Author)
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Research Proposal Goal

Q: In the context of scientific research, what is the primary purpose of a research proposal?
- To obtain funding for a research project by explaining its budget in detail. (Not quite. While funding can be a goal, the purpose of a research proposal is broader and focuses on explaining the research plan.)
- To reveal the data that was collected throughout the study and to attract collaborators to participate in the study. (No, though it is possible to include a statement on preliminary results, a proposal outlines plans for future research, not a summary of all data collected.)
- To perform a literature review on a research topic and identify gaps in existing knowledge. (This is a component of a proposal, but the main purpose is to present a research plan and justify its significance.)
- To list the materials and methods needed for the research without stating the purpose of the research. (A brief mention of methods are important but the proposal lacks direction without a purpose.)
- To provide the objective, experimental plan, and overall significance of a research project. (correct) (Yes! A research proposal provides a clear plan for conducting the study and demonstrates how it will address the research question.)

Research Proposals

Q: Determine if the statement below is True or False.

The overall purpose of a research proposal is to present the finalized results of a research study and conclude the findings of the research.
A: false
If right: Correct! A research proposal focuses on the research plan, not on presenting finalized results.
If wrong: Actually, it’s false! A research proposal outlines the plan for conducting the study and how it will address a research question, rather than only presenting finalized data.

Research Proposal Titles

Q: Which of the following best describes how to effectively write a research proposal project title?
- Use advanced jargon and abbreviations to demonstrate understanding. (Incorrect, as this could make the title unclear to a broader audience or even detract from effective communication.)
- Write a very long title that covers each detail of the study. (Not quite. A title should be concise and should not attempt to include every detail, as this may overwhelm the reader.)
- Create a descriptive and concise title that communicates the scope of the study. (correct) (Yes! A title should be brief yet descriptive.)
- Use only one or two words, keeping the title as short as possible. (This title is too brief. A title that is too short can lack the necessary detail.)
- Use vague language to make the title sound more interesting. (Not exactly, vague language makes the purpose and scope of the study unclear.)

Research Proposal Titles EXAMPLE

Q: Which of the following is the best project title for a research project on developing accessible STEM Open Educational Resources (OERs) in Ontario?
- Development of Bilingual Open Educational Resources for Biosciences Courses in Ontario (correct) (Great! This title is descriptive, concise, and communicates the scope of the study clearly.)
- Bilingual Resources for Education: A Study (Not quite. While this title hints at the topic, it is too vague and does not specify the focus on biosciences courses.)
- Creating Educational Materials for Biosciences (This title lacks the specificity and location/context (Ontario) provided by the correct title.)
- An In-Depth Investigation into the Creation of Various Educational Resources for Enhancing the Teaching of Biosciences in Postsecondary Institutions Across Ontario (This title is too long, vague and overly detailed. Titles should be concise while conveying the scope of the project.)
- Course Content in Science Classes (Not quite, this title is too vague. It does not indicate the bilingual or OER aspect of the project, also disregarding the subfield of biosciences.)

Research Proposal Background

Q: What should the background section of a research proposal consist of? Select the best answer from below.
- A very broad, unstructured literature review of which covers all studies related to the research conducted. (Not exactly, a background should focus on summarizing the literature related to the specific research problem of the proposal and should not attempt to cover everything broadly.)
- A well-referenced summary of the relevant literature that helps the reader to understand the gap(s) in the field that will ultimately be addressed by the proposed research. (correct) (Yes! This approach provides context, relevance, and sets the stage for the research.)
- A detailed framework that involves very technical jargon and advanced models that only an expert in the conducted research will understand. (Not quite. The background should be accessible and clear, ensuring that a wide audience can understand the project.)
- The background section should include the methods and procedures to be used in the research study. (This is incorrect because methods and procedures belong in a separate section, not in the background.)
- A context overview of unrelated topics, supported by references, even if they do not directly address the research problem. (Not exactly, any irrelevant information distracts from the purpose of the background.)

Research Proposal Objectives

Q: Which of the following is the most effective approach to writing the objective statement in a research proposal?
- The objective must be very detailed to include as much background information as possible, with at least 5-7 sentences. (Not exactly, objectives should be concise and not include extensive background information.)
- Writing in vague language to ensure the reader has flexibility in interpreting the research goal. (Not quite. Objectives should be specific and clearly define the purpose of the research.)
- Scatter multiple incomplete objective statements throughout the proposal, each addressing a separate focus. (This is false. Objectives should be streamlined and primarily stated in the introduction of the proposal.)
- To avoid redundancy, a research proposal does not require a section touching on the overall objective. (This is incorrect. Stating the overall objective is essential for clarity and guiding the reader.)
- It uses action verbs to concisely state the purpose/goal of the proposed research. (correct) (That's right! A concise objective effectively communicates the purpose of the research carried out. It’s important to remember that the objective should reflect the specific research question.)

Research Proposal Objectives EXAMPLE

Q: Which of the following is the LEAST EFFECTIVE objective statement for a research project focused on developing bilingual Open Educational Resources (OERs)?
- The objective of this project is to develop bilingual Open Educational Resources (OERs). These are educational tools designed to improve accessibility and inclusivity in learning. Each OER will be evaluated through student focus groups to gather feedback on their quality. (correct) (Correct. While this statement provides some detail, it is too long and includes extra information that belongs in the methodology or anticipated results sections.)
- The objective of this project is to develop bilingual Open Educational Resources (OERs) for upper level bioscience courses, and to collect feedback to evaluate and enhance their quality. (Not quite. This statement is clear, concise, and appropriately outlines the development and evaluation of the OERs.)
- This project aims to create three bilingual OERs tailored to BIO1001, BIO1002, and BIO1003, and to assess their effectiveness through comprehensive feedback to improve their utility. (Not quite. This statement is clear, concise, and appropriately outlines the development and evaluation of the OERs.)
- Overall, the project’s goal is to design and implement bilingual OERs for BIO1001, BIO1002, and BIO1003, ensuring their quality through thorough feedback collection and analysis. (Not quite. This statement is clear, concise, and appropriately outlines the development and evaluation of the OERs.)
- The purpose of this project is to create bilingual Open Educational Resources (OERs) for Biology courses and gather user feedback to refine and improve their quality and impact. (Not quite. This statement is clear, concise, and appropriately outlines the development and evaluation of the OERs.)

Ineffective Research Objective

Q: What is WRONG with the following research objective?

The objective of this project is to develop bilingual Open Educational Resources (OERs). These are educational tools designed to improve accessibility and inclusivity in learning. Each OER will be evaluated through student focus groups to gather feedback on their quality.
- It fails to include sufficient background information about the research context. (Not quite. The background information belongs in the background section, not in the objective statement.)
- The statement uses technical terms like "OERs" without defining them for the reader. (No, the statement does define OERs as "educational tools designed to improve accessibility and inclusivity in learning," so this is not an issue here.)
- It does not list all the methodologies that will be used to achieve the objective. (Methodologies are not always required in the objective statement; their inclusion depends on the specific context and purpose of the proposal. In this context, this is not the principal issue.)
- The objective lacks specific action verbs to describe the purpose of the project. (This is not the issue here. The statement uses "develop" and "evaluate," which are clear and specific action verbs.)
- It is lengthy and does not address or define a measurable goal. (correct) (Yes. Correct! The objective is overly detailed and includes information better suited for other sections, such as anticipated results. Additionally, it does not clearly define a measurable goal to assess the project's success.)

Research Proposal Experimental Aim General

Q: Which of the following accurately reflects the function of an experimental aim?
- A high-level summary of the project's overall goals without detailing the specific experimental plan. (Not quite. While understanding the broader goals is important, experimental aims should focus on how the research objectives will be addressed through specific experimental approaches.)
- A detailed prediction of the expected results and their potential applications. (No, experimental aims focus on how the research objective will be addressed.)
- A step-by-step protocol detailing each method used throughout the project, including all pertinent values. The reader should be able to replicate your project. (No, this is far too detailed! Experimental aims summarize the approach and methods but should not include a step-by-step protocol.)
- A more specific summary on how the research objective will be experimentally addressed, including key controls and techniques. (correct) (Yes! Experimental aims are much more focussed and summarize the experimental approach and its connection to the research objective, highlighting key techniques/controls.)
- A concise, short list of the equipment and resources required for conducting the experiment. (No, as experimental aims summarize how the research objective will be addressed rather than listing specific equipment. Including equipment can lead to an unclear, overly detailed aim.)

Research Proposal Experimental Aim Formatting

Q: Which of the following is NOT recommended for formatting and organizing the experimental aims of a research proposal? Select the best answer.
- State the purpose of the experiment clearly, linking it to the research question/objective. (No, this is a best practice as it ensures the experimental aim is relevant.)
- Use clear language to describe the experiment without including unnecessary details. (Not quite. Using clear and concise language is essential for effective communication in research proposals.)
- Include the detailed step-by-step protocol for each method. (correct) (Yes, including a step-by-step protocol is not appropriate for experimental aims, as they should provide a summary, not procedural details.)
- Organize this section by presenting each aim as a title, followed by a concise experimental description. (This is a recommended practice to maintain clarity and structure in the proposal.)
- Make sure the experiment description explains briefly how the aim will be achieved, including primary techniques. (Not quite. This is an essential practice to ensure the reader understands the approach to achieving the aim.)

Experimental Aim Writing

Q: If you were writing a research proposal on developing Open Educational Resources (OERs), which experimental aim would you write to effectively reflect your proposed experimental plan?
- Creating OERs: Developing three bilingual Open Educational Resource (OER) practice quizzes for BIO1001, BIO1002, and BIO1003. Each quiz will consist of 10 original multiple-choice questions (MCQs) reviewed for accuracy by course instructors and uploaded to eCampusOntario’s H5P Studio for open access. (correct) (Yes! This aim is concise, focused, and clearly outlines the objective and methods to answer the research question.)
- Creating OERs: Developing quizzes. (This aim lacks detail about the purpose or method for creating the quizzes, making it ineffective at reflecting a proposed experimental plan.)
- First, I will create OER quizzes because I believe they will be helpful. (Not quite. This aim is not defined and provides no specifics about the courses, content, or how the quizzes will be created; a gap in how the research objective will be accomplished.)
- Creating OERs: The purpose of this experiment is to evaluate how students could use and benefit from Open Educational Resources (OERs). We want to determine whether quizzes developed for Biology courses are effective at improving student outcomes through retrieval practice, which is a proven method of knowledge retention. (This aim focuses more on evaluating OERs than on creating them, not clearly aligning with the experimental aim at hand.)

Research Proposal Significance Section

Q: Which of the following statements accurately describes the purpose of the Significance section in a research proposal?
- To explain the reasoning behind protocols/methods for the research project. (This belongs in the methods or experimental design section, not the significance section.)
- To provide a literature review of past research studies in the same area. (While related, a brief literature review is part of the background section, not the significance section.)
- To justify why the research is important and describe how it will make a difference in the field. (correct) (Yes! The significance section highlights the broader impact of the research and how it contributes to addressing a problem.)
- To predict the results and outcomes from the proposed research project. (Anticipated results are not the focus of the significance section.)
- Outline all the technical skills the student researcher will obtain throughout the project. (No, the skills obtained are not addressed in the significance section.)

Research Proposal Significance Section

Q: Determine if the statement below on the significance section of a research proposal is True or False.

The primary purpose of the significance section in a research proposal is to justify why the research is important and describe how it will make a difference in the field.
A: true
If right: This is the primary purpose of the significance section, which explains the potential impact of the research!
If wrong: Not quite. The significance section focuses on justifying the research's broader contribution.

Matching

Match each research proposal section to its correct definition by dragging and dropping the correct definition to the corresponding section. Ensure that each section aligns with its intended purpose in a well-structured research proposal.

Q: [...]:A concise phrase summarizing the main idea or focus of the research project.
[...]:Provides the rationale for the project, highlighting the problem and why it needs to be addressed.
[...]:A clear, concise statement of the research purpose and what the project aims to achieve.
[...]:A summary of the experimental plan, describing how the research objective will be addressed.
[...]:Explains why the research matters and how it contributes to the field or community.
A: Title; Background; Project Objective; Experiments; Significance