Locke, Lawrence F

Silverman, Stephen J

Spirduso, Waneen Wyrick

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PROPOSALSTHAT WORKA Guide for Planning Dissertationsand Grant Proposals5 thEDITIONLawrence E LockeUniversity of Massachusetts at AmherstWaneen Wyrick SpirdusoThe University of Texas at AustinStephen J. SilvermanTeachers College, Columbia UniversitySAGE PublicationsThousand Oaks ■ London ■ New DelhiContentsPreface to the Fifth Edition	 xiAbout the Nature of This Book	 xiAbout the Changes in This New Edition 	 xiiSuggestions for Using the Book 	 xivAcknowledgments 	 xvüPart I: Writing the Proposal1. The Function of the Proposal	3Function	 3Communication	 3Plan	 4Contract	 4Regulations Governing Proposals	4General Considerations	 6General Format	 7Specific Tasks	7Introducing the Study 	 8Stating the Purpose 	 9Providing a Rationale	10Formulating Questions or Hypotheses	 11Delimitations and Limitations 	 16Providing Definitions	 17Discussing the Background of the Problem 	 17Explaining Procedures	19Providing Supplementary Material	 20Completing the Tasks: The Proposal and the Report 	 222. Doing the Right Thing: "The Habit of Truth"	 25Ethics and the Research Process	 27The Protection of Human Subjects 	 28An Ethical Benchmark 	 29The Self-Interest of Respect	 30The Danger of Seeming Innocent 	 30A Protocol for Informed Consent 	 31The Reactive Effects of Honesty	 32Omission of Information 	 32Cooperation by Coercion	 33Reciprocity	 33The Ethics of Writing	 34Plagiarism	 34Providing All the Facts	 34Manufacturing the Facts	 35Ethics in Publication	 36Personal and Professional Relationships 	 38Relationships With Faculty Mentors	 38Discovery and Obligation	 403. Developing the Thesis or Dissertation Proposal:Some Common Problems	 41Before the Proposal: First Things First 	 42Making Your Decision: Do You Really Want to Do It? 	 42Choosing Your Turf: Advisors and Areas 	 44Finding Your Question: What Don't We KnowThat Matters?	 44The Sequence of Proposing: From Selecting a Topic toForming a Committee	 50A Plan of Action: What Follows What?	 50Originality and Replication: What Is a Contributionto Knowledge?	 58Getting Started: Producing the First Draft	 60Selecting Your Thesis or Dissertation Committee	 614. Content of the Proposal: Important Considerations	 63Reviewing the Literature: Finding It First	 63Reviewing the Literature: Writing the Right Stuff	 68Spadework: The Proper Use of Pilot Studies	 73Murphy's Law: Anticipating the Unexpected	 79Anticipating the Analysis: Do It Now	 80The Statistical Well: Drinking the Greatest Draught	 82On Finding a Friendly Computer	 83The Care and Nurture of Consultants	 84The Scientific State of Mind: Proof, Truth, andRa tionalized Choices	 875. Preparation of Proposals for Qualitative Research:Different Assumptions	 91The Only Constant Is Change	 91Disagreements and Diversity	 93A Brief Description of Qualitative Research	 96Preparing a Proposal for Qualitative Research	 102New Territory: Proposals for Focus Group Research	 106New Territory: Proposals for Mixed Method Research	 108Resources for Qualitative Research	 110The Decision to Go Qualitative	 1196. Style and Form in Writing the Proposal	 125Praising, Exhorting, and Polemicizing: Don't	 125Quotations: How to Pick Fruit From the Knowledge Tree 	 126Clarity and Precision: Speaking in System Language	 127Editing: The Care and Nurture of a Document	 130In Search of a Title: First Impressions and the Routeto Retrieval	 131Components Appropriate for Inclusion in the Title	 132Components Inappropriate for Inclusion in the Title 	 133Mechanics of Titling	 1347. The Oral Presentation	 135Preparing Content 	 138Preparing Materials 	 140A Special Note About the Use of PowerPoint	 145Construction	 146Proper Use	 146The General Rules	 147Practice and Revision 	 147Preparing the Environment	 149Oral Presentation	 149Managing Interaction 	 151The Aftermath	 152Part II: Money for Research	 1538. Money for Research: How to Ask for Help 	 155Money Is Available to Support Research	 157Locating the Money Tree	 159General Strategies	 159Using Institutional Retrieval Systems 	 162Finding Federal and State Dollars 	 163Tapping Into Non-Governmental Sources 	 164Considering Commercial Search Services	 165The Bottom Line	 165Business Possibilities	 166Resources Earmarked for Student Research 	 167Working With the Money Source	 170Home Institutional Resources	 170Federal and State Agencies: ProgressingThrough the Maze	 171Foundations	 174Partnerships With Business 	 176Business and Corporate Foundations 	 177The Grant Application—The Big Picture 	 177The Application and the Proposal 	 178The Cornerstone: The Research Question	 180Quality: The Proposed Research andthe Research Proposal	 180The Investigator and the Environment	 181Dealing With Rejection	 183Planning and Preparation: Taking the Long View	 186Special Tips (and Encouragement) for Students 	 187Why You Should Seek Funding 	 1889. Preparation of the Grant Proposal	 193Using Planning Models and Flowcharts	 193The Application	 196The Budget	 196Staff and Consultant Needs 	 198Supplies and Equipment	 198Travel Costs	 200Indirect Costs	 200Research Support 	 201Biographical Sketch: Presenting Yourself	 203Letters of Endorsement and Confirmation	 204The Research Plan	 205Abstracts	 206Specific Aims and Hypotheses	 209Background	 210Significance of the Proposed Research	 210Procedures and Methods	 211Research Design	 211Participants	 212Tests and Measurements 	 213Procedures	 213Analyses	 214The Time Frame	 214Dissemination of Results 	 218Appendices	 218Summary	 219Part III: Specimen Proposals 	 221Proposal 1. Experimental Study—Strength Training inOlder Women: Does Self-Efficacy Mediate Improvementsin Physical Function?	 223Proposal 2. Qualitative Study—Teachers Who Make aDifference: Voices of Mexican American Students 	 253Proposal 3. Online Electronic Survey Study—The NutritionCare Process of Front-Line Pediatric HIV Providers 	 283Proposal 4. Funded Grant—How Higher Education in PrisonAffects Student-Inmates' Social Capital and Conceptions of Self 311Appendix: Annotated Bibliography of Supplementary References 	 323References	 341Index	349About the Authors	 353

Proposals That Work: A Guide for Planning Dissertations and Grant Proposals

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