Writing Research Papers Writing Successful Grant Proposals Prof Alistair Sutcliffe Universities of Lancaster Manchester Presentation Outline 1 Preparing a Research Paper 2 Styles Structure 3 Gen.Writing Research Papers Writing Successful Grant Proposals Prof Alistair Sutcliffe Universities of Lancaster Manchester Presentation Outline 1 Preparing a Research Paper 2 Styles Structure 3 Gen.
Writing Research Papers & Writing Successful Grant Proposals Prof Alistair Sutcliffe Universities of Lancaster & Manchester Presentation Outline 1. Preparing a Research Paper 2. Styles & Structure 3. General Advice Phases of a research study • • • • • • Idea-generating phase – Identify a topic of interest to study Problem-definition phase – Refine the vague ideas into a precise question to be answered Procedures-design phase – Decide on specific procedures/methods to answer our question Testing phase – Use the procedures devised in the previous phase to test your idea/theory/model Interpretation phase – Answer research question based on results from testing Communication phase – the research paper – Should include a description of all preceding phases Enabled & supported by a review of literature Writing Research papers Planning & Repartition Planning Research Papers • What is the “story” ? - this should be set by your Research questions and - the results • Why is it interesting ? how does it relate to previous work ? • What is the contribution ? - type of research - how has it advanced the state of the art ? Journal or Conference ? • Quantity and Quality of the research substantial study taken 1-2 years > Journal more limited study this year -à conference • Select which journal/ conference depending on your ambition and the quality of the work top quality conferences acceptance rate 10- 15% medium quality conferences 20-25 % poor conferences 50% + Journals • Report significant research • Most important source of results & reputable research • Journal articles give more detail on previous research, methods and results • Prefer refereed journals – Peer review: academics unknown to the author assess the quality of a paper before publication • http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/ journaldescription.cws_home/642704/authorinstructions Journal papers • Acceptance rates depend on journal – but usually 20-50% • Process is slow- depends on reviewer response time -check journal web site for statistics • Acceptance depends on - choosing the appropriate journal - quality of the work - answering the reviewers’ comments Journal Paper Review 1. 2. 3. 4. Submit paper Editor/ Associate editor assigns reviewers Reviews considered by Associate Editor Receive reviews and decision: Reject/Major-minor revisions 5. Edit- revise paper 6. 2nd version sent to same reviewers 7. Receive reviews and decision: Major-minor revisions/ Accept 8. Edit/Prepare final version 9. Paper accepted and published Whole process 12-24 months Planning & Preparation Planning Research Proposals • What is the “problem” ? - this should be in the Research questions and objectives • Why is it interesting ? - how does it relate to previous work ? - why is it novel, original, timely, relevant ? • What is the contribution ? - type of research - how will it advanced the state of the art ? Pilot studies • Have you tried out your research idea in a test project ? - Master student projects, PhD student research - Do some of the work yourself - Ask your University for funds to a pilot study • Pilot projects help because: – you have some evidence that the idea might work – you have thought through the problem • Test your ideas with colleagues, in practice Previous work • Literature Survey Has your idea already been done ? Has something similar been done ? What research are you building on ? • Previous work- related research Justifies your work- you are developing ideas from {x} Establishes why your proposal is unique – different from {a,b,c,} Justifies why your work is important- scale of the problem - theoretical need, - applied socio-economic need Call for Proposals • Research programs can be specific with a Call or general Open competition • If you are addressing a Call for Proposals - Read the call carefully - Is your proposal relevant, why ? • Look at the criteria for proposals - Can you match them ? - How popular witll the call be (trendy topics) - Can you compete ? Writing the Proposal The Idea • There is no substitute for a good idea • A good research proposal should be Novel Timely Relevent • Discuss your idea with colleagues, give a seminar presentation on your idea • Test out that your idea is Feasible and Innovative Research Plan • How will you address the problem ? • What type of research will you carry out to solve the problem/ develop the idea ? {see Research Methods workshop} • Do you have the skills and experience in this type of research ? – if not collaborate- find others who have the experience • Can the research be done in reasonable time within the expected resources ? Proposal Structure (see you local funding organisation for detail) 1. The problem, justification for the research 2. Objectives and Research Questions 3. Approach- how you will address the problem/idea 4. Methods and workplan- detail on how you will address the problem, tasks, outcomes, deliverables 5. Project Management, Bar Chart, risks 6. Your track record, expertise An Example- SAMS project (UK EPSRC Applied Research) 1. The problem & why important ? • Many Old People get Dementia (600,000 + in UK) • Most need full time care £ 50 /annum • Most people get diagnosed too late • Early diagnosis can delay the disease with drugs BUT • People don’t go to their doctor until it is too late SO • Can we monitor people and diagnose the disease automatically ? SAMS Project Research Questions • How to convert clinical expertise into monitoring rules to interpret patterns of human behaviour through human-computer interaction and text messages • How to combine data and text mining to infer clinically meaningful changes in level of cognitive function, including the avoidance of false positives • How to deliver user feedback that is not only effective but also socially acceptable, sensitive and empowering to aid future decision making • How to deliver an effective system in an ecologicalsocial setting, a process problem of participatory codesign with older volunteer users SAMS Approach Computer Science Research 1. Requirements- how will people react, what monitoring is acceptable ? 2. Modelling- linking clinical expertise for diagnosis to computer measures of user activity 3. Design- specification of Data and Text Mining process to analyse user activity 4. Development of Prototype system 5. Evaluation and Testing with users over 12 months - will the software actually detect the the difference between people who have early dementia and those who don’t ? - will be system be accepted by people ? SAMS workplan T1 Requirements and participatory design (lead PS, with AB, CB, IL, RA2+4) T2 Specification of detection processes T3 Data mining technology T4 Text-mining technology T5 Inference & integration T6 Evaluation and validation T7 Generic Architecture delivery and assessment Beneficiaries National Health Service, Older People Medical Technology companies Checking your Proposal • Correct ? - Have you covered all the sections in the proposal form ? • Clear ? - Is it easy to read and concise ? - review proposal with experienced colleagues • Resources ? - Have to asked for the appropriate resources and justified the need ? • Feasible ? - The research can be carried out in the time allocated and Finally • Success rates are low 10- 20 % • If you succeed- congratulations, make sure you deliver • If not, Don’t give up ! - read the reviewers’ comments, improve your proposal - try a different funding agency/ call ... contributions • Choose your audience Writing Sucessful Grant Proposals Prof Alistair Sutcliffe Universities of Lancaster & Manchester Planning & Preparation Planning Research Proposals • What is the “problem”... overview of the subject area • specialist research books – extensive research over many years • edited volumes of research papers- select relevant paper, treat like journal articles Research/ ... supported by a review of literature Writing Research papers Planning & Repartition Planning Research Papers • What is the “story” ? - this should be set by your Research questions and - the results