Strategies for Grant Applying

1

• Strategies for Grant Applying
• Chris Wekerle, Ph.D.
• (cwekerle_at_uwo.ca)
• Faculty of Education
• August 25, 2008

2
Perspective Points

• PI-ing has to start at some point and
  persistence in applying is one of the most
  important factors
• Future success is predicted by past success
  creating a track record (travel grant, seed
  grants and more collaborator status
  co-investigatorship) and working with some
  established researchers are valuable
• There are specific calls for new researchers and
  a commitment to support a new generation of
  researchers
• There are more resources and people to support
  success everyone wants you to succeed in
  getting, executing, publishing, and translating
  research
• Reference Smith, N.B. Works, E. G. (2006). The
  Complete Book of Grant Writing. Naperville, IL
  Sourcebook.
• Research is one way of knowledge creation and
  transmission and there are grant streams for all
  types - important to think process feasibility
  study pilot study full-scale research study
  model program program development literature
  reviews partnering field knowledge uptake,
  workshop and conference funding etc.
• Every researcher has defeat and victory stories
  good ideas will out but there are currency
  and chance issues (i.e., topical trends nature
  of review committee compilation etc.)

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Sweating the Big Stuff

• What is the research question? And what type is
  it?
• Theory-building/bootstrapping (PAR
  framework) versus mainstream?
• Theory-driven? (Frameworks arent theory in
  reviewers world theories often mean diagram
  to reviewers)
• Exploratory versus hypothesis-testing
• Stream-lined question is huge advantage the
  simplest version of an addressable question
  keeping it simple smart
• Critical literature review, with some reference
  to area classics but also showing up-to-date,
  2008 references if area is under-developed still
  need to review in logical connector areas
• Literature review -? Theoretical and Empirical
  rationale for this study (Thank God these
  researchers have come along to try to address
  this very question!)
• Any hard numbers pilot-type information is a huge
  advantage
• Label your study design
• Have a clear statistical/analytic plan even in
  Letters of Intent, with Power Analyses if doing
  quantitative work
• Measurement model flows from conceptual model
  with appropriateness to population/psychometrics
• Feasibility issues need to be addressed
  explicitly (can you get access to these Ss? how
  many Ss are likely to consent? To respond? do
  you have expertise on the team for all major
  aspects of the research? --? Can this research
  get done in the timelines identified?)
• Ethics is an important area to deal with whenever
  youth are Ss or dealing with privacy issues get
  input in advance from your local ethics experts
• Knowledge translation is an important area
  Partnering is important to demonstrate (Letters
  of Support no canned template, specific
  reference to nature and level of commitment and
  where in process)

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Sweating the Small Stuff

• Typos grammar (seriously!)
• Page ordering (checking multiple hard copies if
  thats required) and page checking (some
  requirements are outside of on-line forms)
• Get onto the job of your cv for particular grant
  agency (it is a bigger job than you might
  imagine!)
• Format sticking to guidelines (many reviewers
  will not read past page limit or appendices that
  arent allowed)
• Be easy on the reader (spacing, no jargon, any
  construct defined LOA
• Formal writing style
• Signature page with right signatories (grants
  require institutional signatory Letters of
  Intent may be different)
• Keeping everyone in the loop (the ROLA form)

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Potentially Useful Tips

• Read before, re-read during, and have everyone
  read Research Call For Proposals (RFPs)
• Study-developed measures should never be the
  means of capturing your main or primary outcomes
• Acquire a template of successful grant for
  targeted granting agency (Karen may have some
  available)
• Seek input from colleagues and resources (Karen
  helpful in research reviewing ethics
  questions!)
• Do not hesitate to clarify any questions with
  your local research services (they process a lot
  of grants and appreciate the heads up for
  applying), as well as the agency Project Officer
• Use sub-headings that match grants call
  guidelines of how to apply
• Use superscript for referencing to give you more
  space
• Have someone not in your area give you feedback
  for the outside perspective on understanding the
  logic and flow of your application
• Nothing should be new in the measurement section
  (i.e., prefaced in the introduction)
• Get active as a journal reviewer many journals
  seek out graduate student reviewers send an
  email to the editor/managing editor etc.
• Being a grant reviewer is helpful in developing
  your own grantspersonship
• Positive affirmations You can do it!
• THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION ANY
  COMMENTS/QUERIEScwekerle_at_uwo.ca