This article provides guidance for developing the “statistical considerations” section of a research grant. I normally do not use that term, and suggest separate sections on statistical methods, sample size justification, data management plan, etc. But that’s a quibble. This is very good practical advice, such as reminding you that you need to write both for the statistical reviewer and the non-statistician who is also reviewing the proposal. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Grant writing
Recommended: Training on how to write a grant
I usually do not recommend commercial products, as I know most of you have very limited funds. But when it comes to grants, you should consider paying for good training. The best grant writing class I ever took was from David Morrison, who is part of Grant Writers Seminars and Workshops. Also good are the seminars produced by the Grant Training Center. Details on both groups are listed below. Continue reading
PMean: What not to say in the limitations and alternative strategies section of your grant
I was reviewing a grant and the section on limitations and alternative strategies started off with the following sentence, “We do not anticipate any major limitations in conducting this research.” I suggested in my comments that this was a bad way to start off this section. Here’s why. Continue reading
Recommended: Requiring fuel gauges. A pitch for justifying impact evaluation sample size assumptions
This blog entry from the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation talks about the deficiency in many research proposals sent to that organization. They rely too much on standardized effect sizes, which are impossible to interpret and often misleading. The authors also criticize the Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) that are included in the sample size justification for many cluster based or hierarchical research designs. The ICCs, they say, often seem to be pulled out of thin air. It is a hard number to get sometimes and they suggest that you consider a range of ICCs in your calculations or that you run a pilot study. Continue reading
PMean: A brief abstract of my research interests
I attended a working group meeting for researchers interested in Chem bio Defense applications. They asked each attendee to write a brief abstract of their research interests and expertise to share with the others. This will help in identifying areas of possible collaboration. Here is what I wrote: Continue reading
PMean: Adapt the personal statement on your biosketch to the specific grant
When you are asked to prepare a biosketch for a research grant, you should adapt the personal statement of the biosketch to highlight the specific skills that you have that would be needed for this grant. This is the wrong time to be bashful. Find anything that you can brag about that would be relevant. Continue reading
PMean: Who is your authorized official?
Writing your own grant is an exercise in crisis management. I had a last minute crisis this afternoon, because I had to fill out a form on very short notice. One piece of information I needed for the form was the name of the “authorized official” at Kansas University Medical Center (KUMC). I didn’t even know what an authorized official does. It took a quick google search, but here is the information, in case I need to write another grant. Continue reading
Recommended: Study Development (Kansas City area resource)
This is an excellent local resource for those of you in the Kansas City area. They have guidance on coming up with a study idea, finding funding, and identifying study participants. This site offers general information and links to resources with Frontiers (aka the Heartland Institute for Clinical and Translational Research). Continue reading