Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page i 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page ii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY A Comprehensive Publication Program EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EVAN M BERMAN Huey McElveen Distinguished Professor Louisiana State University Public Administration Institute Baton Rouge, Louisiana Executive Editor JACK RABIN Professor of Public Administration and Public Policy The Pennsylvania State University—Harrisburg School of Public Affairs Middletown, Pennsylvania Public Administration as a Developing Discipline, Robert T Golembiewski Comparative National Policies on Health Care, Milton I Roemer, M.D Exclusionary Injustice: The Problem of Illegally Obtained Evidence, Steven R Schlesinger Organization Development in Public Administration, edited by Robert T Golembiewski and William B Eddy Approaches to Planned Change, Robert T Golembiewski Program Evaluation at HEW, edited by James G Abert The States and the Metropolis, Patricia S Florestano and Vincent L Marando 11 Changing Bureaucracies: Understanding the Organization before Selecting the Approach, William A Medina 12 Handbook on Public Budgeting and Financial Management, edited by Jack Rabin and Thomas D Lynch 15 Handbook on Public Personnel Administration and Labor Relations, edited by Jack Rabin, Thomas Vocino, W Bartley Hildreth, and Gerald J Miller 19 Handbook of Organization Management, edited by William B Eddy 22 Politics and Administration: Woodrow Wilson and American Public Administration, edited by Jack Rabin and James S Bowman 23 Making and Managing Policy: Formulation, Analysis, Evaluation, edited by G Ronald Gilbert 25 Decision Making in the Public Sector, edited by Lloyd G Nigro 26 Managing Administration, edited by Jack Rabin, Samuel Humes, and Brian S Morgan 27 Public Personnel Update, edited by Michael Cohen and Robert T Golembiewski Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page iii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani 28 State and Local Government Administration, edited by Jack Rabin and Don Dodd 29 Public Administration: A Bibliographic Guide to the Literature, Howard E McCurdy 31 Handbook of Information Resource Management, edited by Jack Rabin and Edward M Jackowski 32 Public Administration in Developed Democracies: A Comparative Study, edited by Donald C Rowat 33 The Politics of Terrorism: Third Edition, edited by Michael Stohl 34 Handbook on Human Services Administration, edited by Jack Rabin and Marcia B Steinhauer 36 Ethics for Bureaucrats: An Essay on Law and Values, Second Edition, John A Rohr 37 The Guide to the Foundations of Public Administration, Daniel W Martin 39 Terrorism and Emergency Management: Policy and Administration, William L Waugh, Jr 40 Organizational Behavior and Public Management: Second Edition, Michael L Vasu, Debra W Stewart, and G David Garson 43 Government Financial Management Theory, Gerald J Miller 46 Handbook of Public Budgeting, edited by Jack Rabin 49 Handbook of Court Administration and Management, edited by Steven W Hays and Cole Blease Graham, Jr 50 Handbook of Comparative Public Budgeting and Financial Management, edited by Thomas D Lynch and Lawrence L Martin 53 Encyclopedia of Policy Studies: Second Edition, edited by Stuart S Nagel 54 Handbook of Regulation and Administrative Law, edited by David H Rosenbloom and Richard D Schwartz 55 Handbook of Bureaucracy, edited by Ali Farazmand 56 Handbook of Public Sector Labor Relations, edited by Jack Rabin, Thomas Vocino, W Bartley Hildreth, and Gerald J Miller 57 Practical Public Management, Robert T Golembiewski 58 Handbook of Public Personnel Administration, edited by Jack Rabin, Thomas Vocino, W Bartley Hildreth, and Gerald J Miller 60 Handbook of Debt Management, edited by Gerald J Miller 61 Public Administration and Law: Second Edition, David H Rosenbloom and Rosemary O’Leary 62 Handbook of Local Government Administration, edited by John J Gargan 63 Handbook of Administrative Communication, edited by James L Garnett and Alexander Kouzmin 64 Public Budgeting and Finance: Fourth Edition, edited by Robert T Golembiewski and Jack Rabin 67 Handbook of Public Finance, edited by Fred Thompson and Mark T Green 68 Organizational Behavior and Public Management: Third Edition, Michael L Vasu, Debra W Stewart, and G David Garson 69 Handbook of Economic Development, edited by Kuotsai Tom Liou 70 Handbook of Health Administration and Policy, edited by Anne Osborne Kilpatrick and James A Johnson Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page iv 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani 72 Handbook on Taxation, edited by W Bartley Hildreth and James A Richardson 73 Handbook of Comparative Public Administration in the Asia-Pacific Basin, edited by Hoi-kwok Wong and Hon S Chan 74 Handbook of Global Environmental Policy and Administration, edited by Dennis L Soden and Brent S Steel 75 Handbook of State Government Administration, edited by John J Gargan 76 Handbook of Global Legal Policy, edited by Stuart S Nagel 78 Handbook of Global Economic Policy, edited by Stuart S Nagel 79 Handbook of Strategic Management: Second Edition, edited by Jack Rabin, Gerald J Miller, and W Bartley Hildreth 80 Handbook of Global International Policy, edited by Stuart S Nagel 81 Handbook of Organizational Consultation: Second Edition, edited by Robert T Golembiewski 82 Handbook of Global Political Policy, edited by Stuart S Nagel 83 Handbook of Global Technology Policy, edited by Stuart S Nagel 84 Handbook of Criminal Justice Administration, edited by M A DuPont-Morales, Michael K Hooper, and Judy H Schmidt 85 Labor Relations in the Public Sector: Third Edition, edited by Richard C Kearney 86 Handbook of Administrative Ethics: Second Edition, edited by Terry L Cooper 87 Handbook of Organizational Behavior: Second Edition, edited by Robert T Golembiewski 88 Handbook of Global Social Policy, edited by Stuart S Nagel and Amy Robb 89 Public Administration: A Comparative Perspective, Sixth Edition, Ferrel Heady 90 Handbook of Public Quality Management, edited by Ronald J Stupak and Peter M Leitner 91 Handbook of Public Management Practice and Reform, edited by Kuotsai Tom Liou 93 Handbook of Crisis and Emergency Management, edited by Ali Farazmand 94 Handbook of Comparative and Development Public Administration: Second Edition, edited by Ali Farazmand 95 Financial Planning and Management in Public Organizations, Alan Walter Steiss and Emeka O Cyprian Nwagwu 96 Handbook of International Health Care Systems, edited by Khi V Thai, Edward T Wimberley, and Sharon M McManus 97 Handbook of Monetary Policy, edited by Jack Rabin and Glenn L Stevens 98 Handbook of Fiscal Policy, edited by Jack Rabin and Glenn L Stevens 99 Public Administration: An Interdisciplinary Critical Analysis, edited by Eran Vigoda 100 Ironies in Organizational Development: Second Edition, Revised and Expanded, edited by Robert T Golembiewski 101 Science and Technology of Terrorism and Counterterrorism, edited by Tushar K Ghosh, Mark A Prelas, Dabir S Viswanath, and Sudarshan K Loyalka Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page v 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani 102 Strategic Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations, Alan Walter Steiss 103 Case Studies in Public Budgeting and Financial Management: Second Edition, edited by Aman Khan and W Bartley Hildreth 104 Handbook of Conflict Management, edited by William J Pammer, Jr and Jerri Killian 105 Chaos Organization and Disaster Management, Alan Kirschenbaum 106 Handbook of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Administration and Policy, edited by Wallace Swan 107 Public Productivity Handbook: Second Edition, edited by Marc Holzer 108 Handbook of Developmental Policy Studies, edited by Gedeon M Mudacumura, Desta Mebratu and M Shamsul Haque 109 Bioterrorism in Medical and Healthcare Administration, Laure Paquette 110 International Public Policy and Management: Policy Learning Beyond Regional, Cultural, and Political Boundaries, edited by David Levi-Faur and Eran Vigoda-Gadot 111 Handbook of Public Information Systems, Second Edition, edited by G David Garson 112 Handbook of Public Sector Economics, edited by Donijo Robbins 113 Handbook of Public Administration and Policy in the European Union, edited by M Peter van der Hoek 114 Nonproliferation Issues for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Mark A Prelas and Michael S Peck 115 Common Ground, Common Future: Moral Agency in Public Administration, Professions, and Citizenship, Charles Garofalo and Dean Geuras 116 Handbook of Organization Theory and Management: The Philosophical Approach, Second Edition, edited by Thomas D Lynch and Peter L Cruise 117 International Development Governance, edited by Ahmed Shafiqul Huque and Habib Zafarullah 118 Sustainable Development Policy and Administration, edited by Gedeon M Mudacumura, Desta Mebratu, and M Shamsul Haque 119 Public Financial Management, edited by Howard A Frank 120 Handbook of Juvenile Justice: Theory and Practice, edited by Barbara Sims and Pamela Preston 121 Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Threat to Occupational Health in the U.S and Canada, edited by William Charney 122 Handbook of Technology Management in Public Administration, edited by David Greisler and Ronald J Stupak 123 Handbook of Decision Making, edited by Gửktug Morỗửl 124 Handbook of Public Administration, Third Edition, edited by Jack Rabin 125 Handbook of Public Policy Analysis, edited by Frank Fischer, Gerald J Miller, and Mara S Sidney 126 Elements of Effective Governance: Measurement, Accountability and Participation, edited by Kathe Callahan 127 American Public Service: Radical Reform and the Merit System, edited by James S Bowman and Jonathan P West 128 Handbook of Transportation Policy and Administration, edited by Jeremy Plant Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page vi 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani 129 The Art and Practice of Court Administration, Alexander B Aikman 130 Handbook of Globalization, Governance, and Public Administration, Ali Farazmand and Jack Pinkowski 131 Handbook of Globalization and the Environment, edited by Khi V Thai, Dianne Rahm, and Jerrell D Coggburn 132 Personnel Management in Government: Politics and Process, Sixth Edition, Norma M Riccucci and Katherine C Naff 133 Handbook of Police Administration, edited by Jim Ruiz and Don Hummer 134 Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration, Second Edition, edited by Gerald J Miller and Kaifeng Yang 135 Social and Economic Control of Alcohol: The 21st Amendment in the 21st Century, edited by Carole L Jurkiewicz and Murphy J Painter Available Electronically Principles and Practices of Public Administration, edited by Jack Rabin, Robert F Munzenrider, and Sherrie M Bartell PublicADMINISTRATIONnetBASE Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page vii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration Edited by Gerald J Miller Rutgers University Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A Kaifeng Yang Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A Boca Raton London New York CRC Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 © 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S Government works Version Date: 20150514 International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4200-1327-6 (eBook - PDF) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly 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Applying for Research Grants 931 An obviously qualified, expert, productive investigator A proposal tailored to the funding source and its review A literate, focused, well-organized, interesting proposal An important hypothesis effectively tested State-of-the-art science Argon describes the introduction as ‘‘a coherent and interesting preview to the project description’’ (p 227) The background or need section, she says, describes ‘‘the background of your project, the state of the field, and the recent evolution of the field.’’ She suggests that this section should ‘‘also critically evaluate existing knowledge and identify the need or gap that your project is expected to fill’’ (pp 227–228) Therefore, as pointed out by Przeworski and Salomon, in order to establish the context ‘‘it is essential that the proposal summarize the current state of knowledge and provide an up-to-date, comprehensive bibliography.’’ (p of 11) The section on goals and objectives plays an important role in the research proposal as it does in the social action proposal Topics in this section for the research proposal include the basic hypothesis to be tested, the long-term objectives, and the anticipated results, outcomes or accomplishments of your research project (Argon, p 228) The program narrative, called the heart of the proposal, consists of the research design, methodologies, and procedures Przeworski and Salomon make two suggestions about this section First, ‘‘the proposal must specify the research operations you will undertake and the way you will interpret the results of these operations in terms of your central problem.’’ Second, they suggest that a methodology is ‘‘not just a list of research tasks but an argument as to why these tasks add up to the best attack on the problem.’’ (p of 11) The significance section must make clear the value of the research project and its potential impact and its expected outcome (Argon, p 228) Ogden and Goldberg suggest that the prose in this section must be sharply focused to show that the research project is important, interesting, and that there is a high probability of success (p 89) In the qualifications and resources section, you will discuss ‘‘your qualifications and the qualifications of your team as well as the special resources—facilities and equipment—you have at your disposal’’ (Argon, p 228) You can use this section, Argon suggests, ‘‘to convince the reviewers that your particular university is the right place to conduct this project.’’ How you get to the first or second draft of the application which includes these components? Reif-Lehrer (1989) suggests that you start with a planning process in which you ask some key questions, such like the ones we have displayed in Table 46.2 46.4 PROJECT BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION The budget and the budget justification usually include direct and indirect costs (Argon, pp 230–321) Most funding sources give directions for a well-developed and well-justified budget Direct costs, as described by Argon, are ‘‘those that can be specifically identified with a particular project and are easily tracked and accounted for’’ (p 230) These direct costs include salaries and wages for project personnel, materials, and equipment, travel associated with the project, telephone and Internet charges, computer costs, and publication charges Indirect costs, Argon points out, are ‘‘those incurred for common or joint objectives and that therefore cannot be identified specifically with a particular project.’’ (p 230) In other words, indirect costs are costs that will occur even without your research project Examples of costs that are generally covered by indirect costs are the costs for maintenance and operations of a building, library costs, departmental administration and university administration Argon also gives other examples, such as ‘‘accounting, sponsored projects, grants, and contacts management, personnel, purchasing, and plant accounting’’ (p 230) Not all funding sources recognize indirect costs, others set a limit (e.g., ten percent) and federal and most State agencies require an approved indirect cost rate, which the organization receives based on a detailed indirect cost proposal and, in most cases, extensive negotiations Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 932 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan 932 Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration TABLE 46.2 Questions to Ask during the Planning Process Component Background=Need Goals and Objectives Narrative Research design Methodologies Procedures Significance Qualifications and resources Budget and budget narrative Questions to Answer Are you and your team aware of what’s been done in this and related fields? What is the long-range goal? What are the specific objectives? Do the specific objectives lead toward accomplishment of the long-range goal? What is the hypothesis to be tested or question to be answered? Is the methodology ‘‘state-of-the-art?’’ How long will the work take? What are the expected results? What are your contingency plans in case you hit a ‘‘snag?’’ Where will the work be carried out (i.e., project site)? Is the work original? How will the project benefit your institution? How will the project benefit society? Who will the work? What is the reputation of the grantee and his or her team? Why should the granting agency let you the project (i.e., What are your unique qualifications)? How much will the project cost (budget) and why (budget justification)? What is the cost=benefit ratio for the project? What other funds are available to support your project? Source: Based on Reif-Lehrer, L., in Writing a Successful Grant Application, Jones and Bartlet Publishers, Boston, 1989, 78–79 Figure 46.2 gives a very simple example for a research grant budget that was funded by the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), which also gives detailed instructions and guidelines on its Web site (www.airweb.org) With regard to salaries and wages, most funding sources recognize salaries of staff and faculty which constitute appropriate direct costs and may be requested in proportion to the effort devoted to the project As explained by the guidelines of the AIR, research is usually regarded as one of the normal functions of institutional research staff and faculty members at institutions of higher education Compensation for time normally spent on research within the term of appointment is deemed to be included within the staff or faculty members’ regular institutional salary In the case of AIR, grant funds may not be used to augment the total salary or rate of salary of staff or faculty members during the period covered by the term of their appointment, or to reimburse staff or faculty members for consulting or other time in addition to regular full-time institutional salary covering the same general period of employment In the case of these restrictions, many faculty members will budget for a summer salary as part of their research grants Other funding sources often take a different view, so it is important to ascertain the funding source’s policies on this important issue 46.5 SAMPLE RESEARCH PROPOSAL Lessons to be learned for writing a grant application for research in public administration can come from different fields, and the Web site of the AIR is an excellent example The AIR, with support from the United States Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), has developed several grant programs, with goals to enhance the quality of institutional Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 933 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan Applying for Research Grants 933 research in postsecondary education and provide professional development opportunities to individuals in the area of institutional research in the United States AIR’s Web site offers a link to research grant proposals, including a grant for $25,776 which went to principal investigator Marvin Titus, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University Starting with a project summary for a proposed study with a title which should interest most of us—‘‘Examining the Private Benefit of Graduate Education: A Two-Stage Approach,’’ Titus (2004) explains in the opening summary that his study is different from previous research in several ways: its focus is on the marginal private benefit, it will draw from cultural, social, and capital theories, and it ‘‘will address self-selection in graduate school, and the implications of controlling for this process.’’ (2004, p ii) Figure 46.1 displays the proposal’s table of contents As is evident from the table of contents (Figure 46.1), Titus uses five pages to describe the essence of his proposal In the research design section, he offers his two research questions: ‘‘(1) Do variables, measuring cultural and social capital, predict whether individuals attend graduate school? In other words, what variables reflecting cultural and social capital help to explain selfselection? (2) After taking into account self-selection, what is the private marginal return to an advanced degree, by degree type?’’ Having covered the research design in one half page, Titus explains that his data will come from the 1993 Bachelor’s and Beyond Longitudinal Study, which is a restricted database sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) The Project summary Table of contents Project summary A Statement of the problem B Proposal of work Research design .4 Data Conceptual model Variables—first stage Variables—second stage Analysis C Dissemination plan 10 D Description of policy relevance 11 E Discussion of innovative concepts 12 of project F Discussion of audience to whom the the project will be important 13 References cited 14 Biographical sketch 21 Budget and budget justification .26 Current and pending support 28 Facilities, equipment and other resources 29 Special information and supplementary documentation 30 FIGURE 46.1 Sample table of contents for a research grant application (From Titus, M.A., Examining the private benefit of graduate education: a two-stage approach Available as of December 26, 2006 at http:==www airweb.org=images=209-Titus%20Marvin.pdf.) Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 934 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan 934 Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration next step is the description of the conceptual model, which relies on citing about ten sources Titus explains that ‘‘this study uses a comprehensive conceptual model that incorporates rationale from cultural, social, and human capital theories to examine the private benefits of graduate education.’’ (p 5) Having covered the conceptual model in one page, the proposal describes the variables in two and a half pages In the first stage of the analysis, he says, ‘‘the independent variables will include several measures of cultural and social capital.’’ The two measures of cultural capital are parental educational attainment and whether the language that is most often spoken in the home is English (yes or no) The proposal explains that it will use exploratory factor analysis to construct several composite measures, with the view towards measuring social capital through ‘‘variables reflecting parental involvement in graduate education, and the extent to which social networks that promote graduate enrollment exist.’’ Titus cites about 17 sources to describe his approach to the variables and explains, for example, that as a result of prior research, he will include gender, race or ethnicity, and family income as predictors of earnings Using very precise language, Titus explains that in the second stage of analysis, ‘‘the dependent variable will be continuous and defined as the natural log of annual earnings.’’ The proposal’s one page description of the Analysis is the most technical of all the sections, reflecting competence in statistical models, as described elsewhere in this handbook This research proposal informs the process of writing a research grant proposal, because it balances technical language inherent in the research with commonsense language that will appeal to the lesstechnically astute person who might have a role in the decision whether or not to fund the proposal For example, the one paragraph for description of policy relevance acknowledges the fact that ‘‘institutions are increasingly being asked to provide accountability indicators reflecting graduate school outcomes,’’ and sets forth the claim that ‘‘this research will inform campus leaders and higher education policy makers with regard to the predictors of the marginal benefit of an advanced degree.’’ (p 11) This proposal addresses the other key components, such as dissemination, policy, innovative concepts, and target audience, with clear and concise paragraphs The budget and budget justification for this proposal are also very instructive to those who are pursuing research grants in other fields, such as public administration The proposal’s budget of $25,776, as displayed in Figure 46.2, Senior personnel Principal investigator (2 months summer salary) $ 12,889 Other personnel Hourly graduate students ($20/h ϫ 10 h/week ϫ 28 weeks) $ 5,600 Fringe benefits Faculty (23 percent) Graduate student hourly rate (8.45 percent) $ 2,964 $ 473 Travel To attend mandatory AIR conference Conference attendance for dissemination of results $ 1,800 $ 1,800 Other direct costs Publication costs /dissemination & research supplies $ Total direct costs (A through G) $ 25,776 Total direct 250 $ 25,776 FIGURE 46.2 Sample research grant proposal budget and budget justification (From Titus, M.A Examining the private benefit of graduate education: a two-stage approach Association for Institutional Research Grant Proposal, 2004, Available as of December 26, 2006 at http:==www.airweb.org=images=209-Titus%20Marvin.pdf.) Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 935 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan Applying for Research Grants 935 requests specific line items that, if funded, would be of substantial benefit to many researchers starting out in their areas of research The budget will cover two months of the principal investigator’s salary during the summer, 280 hours to pay a graduate assistant at $20 per hour, related fringe benefit costs for both individuals, travel funds for two national conferences, and duplication costs for the interim and final reports In this budget there are no indirect costs which can be claimed by the sponsoring institution 46.6 CRITERIA FOR A WINNING PROPOSAL Grants writers affiliated with the Social Science Research Council underscore the importance of perfecting the art of writing proposals (Przeworski and Salomon, 2006) Suggesting that the writing of proposals for research funding is a ‘‘peculiar facet of North American academic culture,’’ the writers point out that a proposal’s overt function is to persuade a committee of scholars that the ‘‘project shines with the three kinds of merit all disciplines value, namely conceptual innovation, methodological rigor, and rich, substantive content.’’ (p 1) In order to meet these criteria, as well as to overcome barriers such as ‘‘incomprehension among disciplines’’ and ‘‘proposals that reflect unlike social and academic circumstances,’’ Przeworski and Salomon suggest that the proposal writer must provide clear answers to three questions which are constantly in the minds of the readers who review proposals: What are we going to learn as a result of the proposed project that we not know now? Why is it worth knowing? How will we know that the conclusions are valid? (p 2) To rise above the competition, the writers suggest that you ‘‘say what you have to say immediately, crisply, and forcefully.’’ They recommend that you use the opening paragraph or the first page ‘‘to grab the reviewer’s attention.’’ That is the moment, they say, ‘‘to overstate, rather than understate, your point or question.’’ Caveats and conditions, they suggest, can be added later Przeworski and Salomon claim that the best way to begin a proposal is with questions that are clearly posed or with stating your central point, hypothesis, or interpretation They encourage the proposal writer to ‘‘leave the reviewer with something to remember: some message that will remain after reading many other proposals and discussing them for hours and hours.’’ (p 3) Argon (1995) rightly observes that ‘‘your completed proposal should read smoothly, with elegant transitions from paragraph to paragraph, section to section.’’ She challenges the grant writers to produce a research proposal which is ‘‘well-written and appropriately ordered’’ so that it can captivate the reader ‘‘with its order, logic, and importance.’’ (p 229) We advocate that you ask a colleague to review your proposal using the criteria in Table 46.3, and that you take this crucial step well before the deadline, so that you will have sufficient time to make necessary changes 46.7 WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM RESEARCH FUNDING IN BIOMEDICINE Even if your research agenda is in public administration, much still can be learned from manuals and information pertaining to money for research in the life sciences Writing about competitively funded biomedical research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ogden and Goldberg (1995) support our claim that the ‘‘principles of grantsmanship’’ apply to ‘‘virtually all research proposals.’’ These principles include what we have already emphasized: (1) a proposal tailored to the funding source; (2) a literate, focused, well-organized, interesting proposal; and (3) an important hypothesis effectively tested (p 4) GrantsNet is an Internet portable available through the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (2006) on the Internet at http:==www.hhs.gov=grantsnet= This portal leads to the research dollars available through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research dollars in the life Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 936 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan 936 Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration TABLE 46.3 Review Criteria for the First or Second Drafts Criteria: My Research Proposal 10 11 12 Yes No Does Not Apply Has a clearly articulated needs statement Is there sufficient attention given to related research by others? Are the purposes of the study clear and sufficiently detailed? Describes how my proposal fits into the field of public administration and how it will advance it Has a clearly articulated hypothesis Is the proposal well-coordinated and clearly related to a central focus? Will the study design provide the data needed to achieve the aims of the project? Is the sampling design appropriate? Have you justified the sample size? Have you spelled out the major dependent and independent variables? Demonstrates the importance of the research project Are the specific tasks clearly related to personnel, time, and budget? Is there sufficient time commitment by the principal investigators? Source: Based on Argon, J.K., in Deneef, A Leigh and Craufurd, D Goodwin (Eds.), The Academic’s Handbook Duke University Press, Durham, 1995, 229; Reif-Lehrer, L., Second Edition Writing a Successful Grant Application Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston, 1989, 146–148 sciences in 1993 totaled $30 billion, with thirty-two percent being available from the 21 grantmaking components of the National Institute of Health, seven percent from other federal and military sources, fifty percent from industry, and eleven percent from other sources, mainly foundations (Ogden and Goldberg, p 3) The past decade has seen a significant increase in research funds for medicine and related fields In the federal Fiscal Year 2006 the NIH level of funding alone was $28.4 billion, which reflects a threefold increase of funding during the past 14 years (Zerhouni, 2006) The GrantsNet portal provides a convenient and user-friendly point and click method of accessing information that is divided into seven sections: (1) Introduction to HHS Grants, (2) funding opportunities, (3) application process, (4) HHS Grant process overview, (5) grant policies and regulations, (6) tracking obligated grant funds, and (7) additional grant resources (USDHHS, GrantsNet, p 1) To get started, for example, you can locate the NIH guide, which will link you to the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, or you can access the link directly at http:==grants.nih.gov=grants This Web page gives you links to definitions and more information, requests for applications (RFAs), program announcements (PAs), recent policies and guidelines, and new announcements for the week Other links available from this page are funding opportunities, NIH forms and applications, submission dates and deadlines, submitting your grant application, and resources for grant applications If you connect with the resources link, you will have access to getting started at NIH, grant writing tips sheets, glossary of NIH terms, NIH acronym list, information for new grantees, the office of extramural research outreach activities, and resources for new investigators If you had searched for ‘‘public policy’’ in funding opportunities and notices in mid 2006, for example, you will have been directed to about 20 opportunities, including program announcement (PA) number PA-05-036 from the National Institute on Aging entitled Retirement Economics This PA is instructive to researchers in public administration in many ways, including its broad range of research interests, the amount of the research funds available, and the types of grants available The PA encompassed ‘‘research on the work and retirement decisions that people make at older ages and the health and economic circumstances of individuals as they evolve before retirement, at the time that work transitions take place, and throughout retirement.’’ As stated by the PA, this research is Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 937 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan Applying for Research Grants 937 TABLE 46.4 Research Objectives for PA-05-036, Retirement Objectives Research Objectives, PA-05-036 The determinants of retirement behavior The variation in work patterns in later life The evolution of health and economic circumstances of individuals Time use and life satisfaction before and during retirement The implications of retirement trends Retirement expectations International comparisons of retirement The development of innovative retirement modeling techniques about ‘‘the complex interrelationships between work, economic circumstances, public policy, health, and other aspects of later life.’’ Researchers in public administration should be able to enter this area of research with a strong competitive advantage Table 46.4 summarizes the possible research objectives, which includes determining the factors in retirement behavior and life circumstances and describing retirement trends and expectations To convince our readers of the relevance of the NIH grant research material researchers in the field of public administration, let us take a closer look at what PA-05-036 says about the review criteria for this proposal According to the Web page: The NIH R21 exploratory=developmental grant is a mechanism for supporting novel scientific ideas or new model systems, tools, or technologies that have the potential to significantly advance our knowledge or the status of health-related research Because the Research Plan is limited to 15 pages, an exploratory= developmental grant application need not have extensive background material or preliminary information as one might normally expect in an R01 application Accordingly, reviewers will focus their evaluation on the conceptual framework, the level of innovation, and the potential to significantly advance our knowledge or understanding Reviewers will place less emphasis on methodological details and certain indicators traditionally used in evaluating the scientific merit of R01 applications, including supportive preliminary data Appropriate justification for the proposed work can be provided through literature citations, data from other sources, or, when available, from investigator-generated data Preliminary data are not required for R21 applications; however, they may be included if available What, you may ask, is the RO1 or the R21? The NIH Web site provides the answer The Research Project Grant (R01) is the original and historically oldest grant mechanism used by NIH, dating back to 1968 The R01 provides support for health-related research and development based on the mission of the NIH R01s can be investigator initiated or can be in response to a program announcement or request for application The NIH awards R01 grants to organizations of all types (universities, colleges, small businesses, for-profit, foreign, and domestic, faith-based, etc.) and the R01 mechanism allows an investigator to define the scientific focus or objective of the research based on a particular area of interest and competence Although the principal investigator writes the grant application and is responsible for conducting the research, the applicant is the research organization The Research Project (R01) grant is an award made to support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigators in an area representing the investigators’ specific interest and competencies, based on the mission of the NIH The R21 is intended to encourage exploratory or developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of development Initiatives can be obtained in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts at http:==grants.nih.gov=grants=guide=index.html and by consulting Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 938 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan 938 Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration with NIH staff In some cases those announcements may specify different application characteristics, review criteria, and receipt dates The PA for investigator-initiated R21 applications can be found at http:==grants.nih.gov= grants=guide=pa-files=PA-06-181.html The R21 mechanism is intended to encourage new, exploratory, and developmental research projects by providing support for the early stages of their development For example, such projects could assess the feasibility of a novel area of investigation or a new experimental system that has the potential to enhance health-related research These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models or applications that could have major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000 The Web page also provides criteria which will be used, also suggesting that ‘‘an application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score For example, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.’’ As found on the Web page (http:==grants.nih.gov=grants=guide=pa-files=PA-06-236.html#SectionV), the criteria are: Significance: Does this study address an important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field? Approach: Are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics? Innovation: Is the project original and innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area? Investigators: Are the investigators appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers? Does the investigative team bring complementary and integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)? Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support? During the process of pursuing federal research grants, and certainly upon the award of a federal grant, we recommend that you visit Know Net, which can be accessed at http:==www.knownet.hhs gov Know Net is a knowledge management, e-learning, and performance support system for federal agencies, state, and local governments, contractors, grantees, and citizens The Web site provides information on key business functions in the federal government, such as acquisition, finance, grants, and logistics, as well as audit resolution, cost policy, performance management, and real property management In short, Know Net utilizes a novel approach by providing a direct, timely, and usable connection between the practitioner and the laws, regulations, and policies of the federal government 46.8 FUNDING SOURCES Professor Jon Harrison’s Web site opens up a huge array of Web-based resources that inform and support our search for research grants This outstanding portal, located at http:==www.lib.msu edu=harris23=grants=, will link you to most of the Internet resources that you could possibly need to search for research grants and to properly and skillfully prepare and submit your applications Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 939 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan 939 Applying for Research Grants (If this link does not work for you, an Internet search for ‘‘Michigan State University and Jon Harrison.’’) Part one of the Web site, designed for users of the Michigan State University Libraries, is still a very valuable resource for everyone interested in grants, because it provides a wideranging, comprehensive bibliography of resources, many of which can be found in other University libraries, as well Part two lists and summarizes grant-related resources available on the World Wide Web, using 34 different categories For example, if you visit the first category, ‘‘Academic Funding Newsletters and Current Awareness Services,’’ you will be linked to many journals and newsletters that are appropriate for your pursuit of research dollars If you visit category 19, ‘‘Academic Research and Development Links,’’ you will be introduced to University research oriented organizations and their Web sites, such as the Association of Professional Researcher’s for Advancement (APRA), the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), and the Society of Research Administrators (SRA) International Although Crossland’s essay is over 20 years old, his words are wise counsel for the researcher, particularly the new entrant looking for research funds Crossland (1995) offers many specific instructions and excellent hints and tips, and he warns that ‘‘the odds are that your requests for foundation support will be rejected.’’ (p 244) He does add, however, that you should not be easily discouraged even though your first foundation grant ‘‘very likely will be the most difficult to secure.’’ (p 245) Crossland acknowledges that there are about 50 foundations that have ‘‘reasonably broad objectives, operate on the national scene, have full-time professional staffs, and evince interest in higher education activities.’’ (p 238) The foundations which he names as fitting in this category are displayed in Table 46.5, along their Web site addresses Crossland suggests that a researcher should become familiar with these foundations, and in today’s Internet-based world, it is easy to so However, he suggests that researchers who are new in academe will not be involved with these foundations, because ‘‘you probably will be seeking support from smaller, local, less well-known potential funders.’’ (p 238) Some foundations suggest that you begin with a letter of inquiry For example, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which expects that the Corporation’s grant making will total more than $80 million during fiscal year 2005–2006, advises that, after you take a quiz for eligibility, your letter of inquiry should address the following points, per its Web site (http:==www.carnegie org=sub=program=grantletter=html): TABLE 46.5 Thirteen Large Foundations in the United States which Support Research Foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York ExxonMobil Foundation Ford Foundation The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation W.K Kellogg Foundation The Kresge Foundation Eli Lilly and Company Foundation The John, D and Catherine, T MacArthur Foundation The Andrew W Mellon Foundation The Pew Charitable Trusts The Rockefeller Foundation Alfred P Sloan Foundation Uniform Resource Locator (URL) http:==www.carnegie.org www.exxonmobil.com=Corporate=Citizenship= Corp_citizenship_Com_foundations.asp http:==www.fordfound.og http:==www.hewlett.org http:==www.rwjf.org http:==www.wkkf.org http:==www.kresge.org http:==www.lilly.com=products=access=foundation.html http:==www.macfound.org http:==www.mellon.org http:==pewtrusts.com http:==www.rockfound.org http:==www.sloan.org Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 940 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan 940 Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration What problem does your project address? Why is this issue significant? What is the relationship of the problem or issue to the corporation’s current program interests as noted in its Information Pamphlet and Web site? What strengths and skills your organization and personnel bring to this project? What makes your organization the right one to conduct this project? Who will lead the project? Identify key personnel and attach resumes What you intend to demonstrate or prove? What means will you use? If the project is already under way, what have you accomplished so far? If you are requesting funding from the Carnegie Corporation for a component of a larger project, specify which activities you are requesting the corporation to fund and how they relate to the larger project What outcomes you expect, both immediate and long term? If you have requested funds from other sources (or plan to), please list those sources and note the status of your request What plans you have to disseminate information to the public about your project? The Ford Foundation also suggests that a request for a grant begin with a brief letter of inquiry to its New York office The Foundation’s Web page (http:==www.fordfound.org=about=guideline cfm) also points out that its funds are limited in relation to the great number of worthwhile proposals received For example, in 2004 the foundation received about 41,000 grant requests and made 2,091 grants The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation uses an online letter of inquiry (http:==www hewlett.org=Grantseekers=ShortLOI.htm) The format is quite simple, but it is apparent that the foundation limits the number of inquiries by restricting the areas for which it receives requests The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the largest American foundation which is dedicated solely to health care In 2005, RWJF awarded 959 grants and contracts providing $369.5 million in support of programs and projects to improve health and health care of all Americans According to its Web site (http:==www.rwjf.org=applications=firsttimeapplicants.jhtml), RWJF funds projects in addiction prevention and treatment, building human capital, childhood obesity, disparities, health insurance coverage, nursing, public health, quality health care, tobacco use and exposure, and vulnerable populations The projects that RWJF funds include service demonstrations, gathering, and monitoring of health-related statistics, public education, training, and fellowship programs, policy analysis, health services research, technical assistance, communication activities, and evaluations RWJF reports that most of its grants are solicited, as they are awarded in response to calls for proposals (CFPs) However, about 25 percent of its funds are awarded to unsolicited proposals, according to its Web site (Based on its 959 awards in 2005, that is about 240 unsolicited approvals per year.) The W.K Kellogg Foundation (www.wkkf.org) lists five areas of interest for its grants in the United States: Health, Food Systems and Rural Development, Youth, and Education, Philanthropy, and Volunteerism, the Greater Battle Creek, Michigan area, and Learning Opportunities WKKF reports that research is funded only as part of a broader program, such as investigating the effects of a Foundation-funded project The foundation prefers that grant applicants submit their proposals electronically by using the foundation’s online application, which allows you to choose between two alternatives—submit a letter of inquiry or submit a preproposal The format for the letter of inquiry is made up of components which are very similar to the key proposal items which we have seen throughout this chapter: project name, project overview, project goals, project objectives, rationale, project activities, anticipated outcomes, and target geographic area The preproposal online is very similar, adding items such as a sustainability plan and a list of collaborating organizations The Kresge Foundation, according to its Web site (www.kresge.org) is a $3 billion national foundation that builds stronger nonprofit organizations—catalyzing their growth, helping them connect with their stakeholders, and challenging them grants that leverage greater support Half of each Kresge Science Initiative grant is applied toward the purchase of scientific equipment Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 941 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan Applying for Research Grants 941 The other half supports an endowment restricted to the future maintenance and replacement of the equipment The Andrew W Mellon Foundation has three of six areas of interest that might be of relevance to public administration: higher education and scholarship, scholarly communications, and research in information technology If public administration is viewed in a very broad sense, the foundation’s three other areas of interest might also be seen within the purview of public administration: Museums and Art Conservation, Performing Arts, and Conservation and the Environment The Web site (http:==www.mellon.org=scholarly.html) warns, however, that the foundation is rarely able to respond positively to unsolicited requests and suggests that prospective applicants explore their ideas with program staff in a short e-mail describing the project and the budget As is the case for all of the foundations listed in Table 46.4, the Mellon Foundation’s Web site (http:==www mellon.org=research.html) is truly worth the visit, and in the case of the Mellon Foundation’s site, if for no other reason than to be briefed on the foundation’s own research, including the BowenRudenstein study of PhD programs (In Pursuit of the PhD) and, in addition, the 1992 study of research libraries (University Libraries and Scholarly Communication), which led to the creation of JSTOR The Pew Charitable Trusts serves the public interest by providing information, advancing policy solutions, and supporting civic life According to its Web site (www.pewtrusts.com), the Trusts will invest $248 million in fiscal year 2007 to provide organizations and citizens with fact-based research and practical solutions for challenging issues The foundation joins the other foundations, as described above, in its inability to respond to many unsolicited funding inquiries, which in FY2005 numbered over 2000 Because the foundation can respond to only a very few, its Web site indicates that ‘‘we hope that our expanded program descriptions and guidelines will enable would-be applicants whose projects fall outside our funding priorities to direct their efforts toward more promising funding prospects.’’ The foundation encourages the applicant to consult the Trusts’ program staff for assistance (www.pewtrusts.com=grants=index.cfm) The Rockefeller Foundation’s Web site (http:==www.rockfound.org) makes it very clear that the foundation is really not interested in unsolicited funding requests It points out that ‘‘Rockefeller Foundation officers rarely provide funding in response to unsolicited proposals.’’ However, the foundation does provide a mechanism to send a brief letter of inquiry either electronically or by U.S Mail, if, after carefully reading the foundation’s Guide for Grantmaking (http:==www rockfound.org=Grantmaking=Funding=Programs), you think your organization’s project aligns with the foundation’s strategic goals The foundation’s broad areas of interest are agriculture, arts and culture, health, employment, housing and education, and globalization As a courtesy to its audience and stakeholders, some of whom may be you and me, desperately trying to obtain funds for a research project, the Rockefeller Foundation’s Web site offers a Web page packed with valuable links These links, as displayed in Table 46.6, might ‘‘inform the process’’ of seeking financial support for your project, which the authors of the Web site, recognize ‘‘can be time-consuming and even frustrating.’’ A visit to the Web site for the Alfred P Sloan Foundation (http:==ww.sloan.org) will be encouraging to the researchers and practitioners in public administration, who may have become disillusioned in reading this chapter with the daunting task of securing funds for research in public administration The foundation’s programs of interest are science and technology, standards of living and economic performance, education careers in science and technology, selected national issues, and the civic program In its description of the 40 or so projects that make up a sub-program in standard of living and economic performance, entitled ‘‘Making Municipal Governments More Responsive to Their Citizens,’’ the many themes and issues within the field of public administration ring loud and clear (http:==sloan.org=programs=PerformanceMeasurementandReporting.shtml) A broad range of organizations and universities are also represented in this group The Web site reports that ‘‘grant requests can be made at any time for support of activities related to Foundation program areas and interests.’’ The Foundation has no deadlines or standard forms, and concise, Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 942 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan 942 Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration TABLE 46.6 Other Philanthropic Resources Organization The Foundation Center Forum of Regional Associations of Grant Makers Independent sector Council on Foundations Chronicle of Philanthropy Yahoo—Philanthropy Guidestar Women & Philanthropy National Science Foundation Association of Small Foundation Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Center for Family Philanthropy The ePhilanthropy Foundation Uniform Resource Locator (URL) http:==www.fdncenter.org http:==www.givingforum.org http:==www.independentsector.org http:==www.cof.org http:==www.philanthropy.com http:==www.dir.yahoo.com=Society_and_Culture=Issues_ and_Causes=Philanthropy http:==www.guidestar.org http:==www.womenphi.org http:==www.nsf.gov=funding=research_edu_community.jsp http:==www.smallfoundations.org http:==www.geofundes.org http:==www.ncfp.org http:==www.ephilanthropy.org=site=PageServer Source: http:==www.rockfound.org well-organized proposals are preferred, with a limit of 20 pages This foundation also recommends that the application process can begin with a letter of inquiry Table 46.6 gives us a comprehensive set of references for financial resources that might be available among private foundations Certainly we should not forget about potential gifts from individual donors, and these benefactors might best be reached through the personnel of your organization’s development office We should always be mindful of the fact that over half of all philanthropy comes from the giving by individuals A comprehensive approach to federal research dollars can be initiated through two government portals on the Internet: www.==firstgov.gov and www.==grants.gov Assisting us in tracking government grants can be a very reliable and timely resource—the business daily Federal Register You can arrange for the Federal Register’s table of contents, with links to pdf files for each set of regulations, to be e-mailed to you on a daily basis by registering with the listserv located at http:== listserv.access.gpo.gov Of course, your State government must also be monitored and we encourage you to so by way of the Internet Other organizations worthy of pursuit are the World Bank and the United Nations Another familiar spot for you should be your organization’s office of research and development It is predictable that your organization’s development team will be able to legitimately tell you that they are busy However, keep in mind that it pays to be heard and the squeaky wheel usually gets the grease 46.9 FINAL LESSONS TO BE LEARNED The final lessons to be learned remind us that, despite the changes introduced in recent years with regard to electronic submissions and Internet-based information, there are proposal writing basics, as we have seen, and there are also other details that must be attended to in the pursuit and management of research grant dollars As previously reported, Argon’s contribution to The Academic’s Handbook’s Part V, ‘‘Funding Academic Research,’’ has emphasized many basics of preparing a grant application for research Argon’s chapter, ‘‘Securing Funding from Federal Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 943 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan Applying for Research Grants 943 TABLE 46.7 Additional Items in the Proposal Package Items for the Proposal Package in Addition to the Project Description Cover sheet Project summary or abstract Curriculum vitae (CV) Budget and budget narrative Certificates and representations, assurances, and checklists Sources,’’ also points us to additional details that must be addressed in either the proposal or preaward stage Table 46.7 lists these additional items Of course, as pointed out by Argon, it is important to read the solicitation carefully, because additional elements vary widely For example, many federal agencies have developed unique and individual cover sheets and others use a standard form However, with the introduction of electronic submissions, as found on the federal portal for grants, www.grants.gov, the requirement for a cover sheet is changing The project summary, or abstract, however, continues to function as a ‘‘succinct and self-contained summary of the proposed work,’’ (p 230) and it is a valuable exercise to save sufficient time in your grant writing venture to prepare an excellent summary after all your writing has been completed Argon reminds us that a curriculum vitae (CV) of everyone who will assume major responsibility for the project should be included in the proposal package It is wise to have a long version and a short version of each CV and to have the CV’s in digital form, because the guidelines for these required documents often limit the length to two pages or so and they often require them to be uploaded as part of the electronic submission We have already covered the budget and the budget narrative Argon gives key insights into important aspects of the budget process for federal grants and contracts For example, she points to the federal guidelines in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which publishes circulars specifically for the preparation and management of budgets and grants by universities, hospitals, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies Argon points out that ‘‘if a cost is included in the cost pools that make up the institution’s indirect cost rate, the same cost may not appear as a direct cost.’’ (p 231) With regard to certifications and representations, assurances, and checklists, Argon notes that ‘‘federal law requires that an institution certify that it is in compliance with an array of federal regulations before an award can be made.’’ (p 231) Making sure that the appropriate representative of your organization can and will sign for your proposal, therefore, is one of the many reasons why it is necessary for you ‘‘to learn and follow the internal requirements of your institution.’’ (p 231) Finally, the Web site for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (http:==www.ahcpr.gov=fund=apptime.htm) reminds us to determine the human subjects requirement in order to comply with our institution’s internal review board This federal Web site also reminds us a basic in writing: ‘‘Be sure to allow time for others to review, edit, and proofread the application.’’ 46.10 FINAL SUMMARY We started this chapter with good news and bad news regarding dollars for research grants in the field of public administration Yes, there is funding available, but, unfortunately the dollars are limited and very competitive Therefore, a research grant application, starting with its abstract and including its descriptions of the background and need, its goals and objectives, the program narrative that describes the research design, methodologies, and procedures, as well as its statements Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C046 Final Proof page 944 25.9.2007 6:09am Compositor Name: JGanesan 944 Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration on significance, qualifications, and resources, and the budget and its narrative—all of these must be of superior quality In order to present a powerful new idea in a clear, convincing, and compelling presentation (Argon, p 226), it is wise to start with a disciplined planning process (Table 46.2) and end with a thorough self-evaluation exercise of your complete narrative (Table 46.3) By examining some of the funding sources in the field of health care, we demonstrated and supported our claim that the principles of grant writing and management apply to virtually all research proposals Furthermore, the federal government provides useful and essential portals to its funding opportunities, including research grants, through various Internet portals, including GrantsNet and Web sites such as www.==firstgov.gov and www.==grants.gov Funding opportunities with national foundations (Tables 46.4 and 46.5) are essential to the pursuit of research funds, but your local and regional foundations, as well as individuals in your organization’s network of influence—people who have a heart and interest in your work and have the financial capacity to make significant gifts—certainly should not be overlooked Finally, drafting, editing, and getting input from others, all of which takes time, must be an essential part of your efforts to win grant dollars for your research work and agenda REFERENCES Argon, J.K 1995 Seeking funding from federal sources In Deneef, A.L and Craufurd, D.G (Eds.), The Academic’s Handbook Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, pp 219—235 Browning, B 2005 Grant Writing for Dummies Second Edition Indianapolis, Indiana: Wiley Publishing Crossland, F.E 1995 New academics and the quest for private funds In Deneef, A.L and Craufurd, D.G (Eds.) The Academic’s Handbook, Second Edition Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, pp 237–248 Kiritz, N.J 1980 Program Planning & Proposal Writing Los Angeles, California: Grantsmanship Center Ogden, T.E and Goldberg, I.A 1995 Research Proposals, A Guide to Success, Second Edition New York: Raven Press Przeworski, A and Salomon, F 2006 The art of writing proposals: Some candid suggestions for applicants to social science research council competitions Web site of the Social Science Research Council Available as of December 26, 2006 at http:==www.ssrc.org=fellowships (See the Art of Writing Proposals link.) Reif-Lehrer, L 1989 Writing a Successful Grant Application, Second Edition Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers Titus, M.A 2004 Examining the private benefit of graduate education: A two-stage approach Association for Institutional Research Grant Proposal Available as of July 1, 2007 at http:==www.airweb.org= images=209-Titus%20Marvin.pdf U.S Department of Health and Human Services 2006 GrantsNet An Internet portal for grants information for the United States Department of Health and Human Services Available as of July 1, 2007 at http:==www.hhs.gov=grantsnet= Zerhouni, Dr E.A 2006 Fiscal year budget 2007 budget request house subcommittee on labor— HHS-education appropriations Available as of December 26, 2006 at http:==www.nih.gov=about=director= budgetrequest=fy2007=directorsbudgetrequest.htm ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION Baron, R.A 1987 Research grants: A practical guide In Zanna, M.P and John, M.D (Eds.), The Complete Academic: A Practical Guide for the Beginning Social Scientist New York: Random House, pp 151–169 Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.G., and Williams, J.M 2003 The Craft of Research Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press Geever, J.C 2004 Guide to Proposal Writing New York: The Foundation Center Jackson, M., Broom, C.A., Vogelsang-Coombs, V., and Harris, J 1999 Performance Measurement Washington, D.C.: American Society for Public Administration Schladweiler, K (Ed.) 2001 Guide to Grantseeking on the Web New York: The Foundation Center ...Miller /Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page i 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration Miller /Handbook. .. Miller /Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page vii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration Edited by Gerald J. .. Logic of Inquiry in the Field of Public Administration Miller /Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C001 Final Proof page 20.9.2007 12:32pm Compositor Name: JGanesan Handbook