Question

These questions relate to grants and grant proposals

1. Why should you not mention that a study will be carried out “because it has never been done” or “there are no data on”?
2. What is the point of including headings, sub-headings, and figures?
3. Why should you tie hypotheses in with long-term objectives?
4. What is the difference between Specific Aims and Background and Significance?
5. What three questions should be addressed in the Background and Signicance section?
6. How does Progress relate to Background and Significance if this is a new application?
7. Where do you put your preliminary data?
8. How do you tie in your Research Design and Methods with your Specific Aims?
9. Why is the budget important?
10. What should go into the budget?
11. What type of publications tend to impress reviewers?
12. What are some common errors made by new applicants?
13. What are the steps of the review process?

Answer 1

Q. What is the point of including headings, sub-headings, and figures?

Ans:- Headings and subheadings represent the key concepts and supporting ideas in the paper. They visually convey levels of importance. Differences in text format guide readers to distinguish the main points from the rest. A heading is a short phrase describing what the succeeding section is all about. You can think of it as the title of that particular section.Subheading maens the heading or title of a subdivision or subsection of a printed work. a division subordinate to a main heading or title.

Figures come in two types: graphs and images/diagrams. Graphs are typically used to present your data in a form that is easy for the reader to understand. Images and diagrams are more likely to be used to help explain concepts or theories. It is important to realise that figures do not act as a replacement for text. You should still explain concepts and theories and present your data in written English. The figures help the reader to understand what you have written.

Q. Why should you tie hypotheses in with long-term objectives?

A hypothesis is a prediction you create prior to running an experiment. The common format is:
If [cause], then [effect], because [rationale]. A strong hypothesis is the heart of data-driven optimization. Use hypotheses to drive meaningful experimentation. Consistent hypothesis-driven experimentation helps your program make an impact on company goals.

Long term Objectives with Hypotheses are as follows:-

* Build a mechanism for constant inquiry.

* Understand your user’s pain-points.

* Discover and prioritize the potential benefits of your experiments.

* Establish a common language for ideation and research.

* Connect experiments to your company’s challenges.

Programs that don't use hypotheses risk wasting resources on unfocused experimentation that fails to make a business impact.

Long-Term Goal: This is your overarching research goal. Because you are asking for support from a particular funding entity, it is important to ensure that your long-term goals align with the mission of your funding entity. Keep your wording general in this sentence—you are stating your long-term plans, and the reviewers understand that the specifics may be subject to change.

Hypothesis and Proposal Objectives: Your proposal should contain both of these components, depending on the long-term goal. State your central hypothesis clearly, specifically, and with simple language. You want to demonstrate to the reviewers that you have a hypothesis-driven proposal that is testable. Describe how your project addresses the critical need, and clearly state the proposed solution. In general, avoid vague hypotheses because it will be unclear to the reviewers what you expect to determine with the proposed research.

Q. What is the difference between Specific Aims and Background and Significance?

Ans:- Grant writing starts with the iterative development of a specific aims page. The aims page serves as a concept sheet with project milestones, hypotheses, and the most important elements of the approach.Grant reviewers often have significantly different research experience and training than the grant writer. Although a grant cannot be won with the specific aims page, a proposal can be lost by confusing or alienating reviewers.

Specific amis and Sigficance shown in table format:-     

Sales	Proposals
Something special to offer	Significance/importance
Good first impressions	Specific aims page

Q. What three questions should be addressed in the Background and Significance section?

Ans:- The introduction of your research paper should provide a background of the study. This includes an explanation of the area of your research to set context for the problem at hand. Background questions are informational questions that improve the understanding of a topic. The questions usually have one or two concepts and do not require the process used in formulating a research or evidence based decision-making questiions.

Significance section- This section will be labeled differently depending on the guidelines. It addresses why the proposed work is important in the field, and answers the question, “so what?” In this section, provide the status quo of the relevant work field and identify a gap in knowledge or activities that must be filled to move the field forward. Sufficient details should be given in this discussion (1) to make clear what the research problem is and exactly what has been accomplished; (2) to give evidence of your own competence in the field; and (3) to show why the previous work needs to be continued.

Q. Where do you put your preliminary data?

Ans:-  I’ve been putting preliminary data wherever it best fits in the new application format. This generally means that I put in the figure when I first mention the data.I’ve noticed, through study section, that many good grants are doing the same thing.I put all of the preliminary data under approach. I fronted a lot of methods, used half a page to explain the rationale of the whole thing, and then 3 pages to explain the methods that were common to everything else. then each study was described very briefly, design, analysis, and followed by the preliminary data that supported the idea that it was doable and likely to work.

Q. How do you tie in your Research Design and Methods with your Specific Aims?

Ans:- Your research may be strictly hypothesis-driven and seek to test several elements of one general hypothesis. In other cases, you may be seeking to develop a critical tool or technique in the proposal. Based on these variations, this paragraph will shape up differently.The Specific Aims section is central to your grant proposal. Therefore, it should be the first section you write. You may think of your Specific Aims page as an abbreviated version of the full grant. By having this page written and well-thought out, the remainder of grant application will be easier to write.

Q. Why is the budget important?

Ans:- Budget is the process of creating a plan to spend your money. This spending plan is called a budget. Creating this spending plan allows you to determine in advance whether you will have enough money to do the things you need to do or would like to do. Since budgeting allows you to create a spending plan for your money, it ensures that you will always have enough money for the things you need and the things that are important to you. Following a budget or spending plan will also keep you out of debt or help you work your way out of debt if you are currently in debt.

Q. What should go into the budget?

Ans:- Following are the steps -

1.  Note your net income. The first step in creating a budget is to identify the amount of money you have coming in.

2. Track your spending

3. Set your goals

4. Make a plan

5. Adjust your habits if necessary

6. Keep checking in

Q. What type of publications tend to impress reviewers?

Ans:-  A popular publication will contain language easily understood by a general audience. They are usually written by journalists or freelance writers and do not undergo a formal review by experts before release. Popular publications generally do not have full citations for information used to write the piece.

Types of pubblications tend to impress reviewers are-

Scholarly publications(Journals)

popular sources(News and magzines)

Q. What are some common errors made by new applicants?

Ans:- Following are some common errors made by new applicants-

1. Not following instructions.

2. Leaving a field blank

3. Turning in the applications late

4. Not explaining employment gaps

5. Don't forget to include all attachements

6. Spelling and grammatical errors

7. Leaving the reader confused

8. Failing to tailor application materials

9. Applying if you are obviously overqualified.

10. Applying if you are obviously unqualified.

Q. What are the steps of the review process?

Ans:- Following are the steps of the review process -

1. Selecting a Topic
2. Forming a Review Group
3. Registering a Topic
4. Protocol
5. Progress Reporting
6. Submit a Completed Review
7. Publication Process
8. Update Review
9. Discussion Forum