Research and Proposal Development Tools

Proposal Development

To develop a strong research proposal that highlights the broader impact of your work, you need to 1) identify the steps to achieve your stated goals; 2) the transferability of your work; and 3) a budget and justification that reflects the allowable and adequate use of resources to complete the project. Each sponsoring organization has its own idea of how to organize a proposal with specifics related to the nature of the research or creative activity. Generally, you should include these components:

A title for the research or creative activity project
A budget and a budget justification
Statement of purpose, problem, hypotheses, or question to be addressed
Relevant literature review
Measurable objectives for the project that relate to the mission and aims of the sponsor
Research design and methodology
Population, sample, and recruiting mechanisms for study participants
Procedures for data collection, protection of subjects, and dissemination
Statistical techniques for data analysis
A project management plan and timeline
Biographical sketches or researcher profiles
Demonstration of an infrastructure to perform the research or activity; often referred to as "facilities and resources"
References and/or bibliography
A list of current and pending support
Institutional support and partner support in the form of a signed letter

The following links provide more information and tools to assist with development of your proposal. OVPR encourages you to contact your research officer as the first step in applying for external funding. Click here to find your research officer.