How to Write a PARC Research PreProposal Dr

How to Write a PARC Research Pre-Proposal Dr. Jamil Khader Dean of Research Professor of English

2016– 17 Fellowship Competition for Palestinian Scholars o The Palestinian American Research Center (PARC) announces its 17 th annual competition for doctoral and post-doctoral research fellowships in Palestinian Studies. o The Palestinian American Research Center (PARC) was formed in 1998 to provide an institutional infrastructure that offers n fellowship funding, n logistical support, n access to local resources, and n a network of academic contacts.

Mission o Improve scholarship and pioneering research about virtually every field and discipline related to Palestinian studies, so that future inquiries n can be better informed, and n provide greater depth of analysis than have writings in the past.

Goals o Increase the range, quantity, and quality of scholarship about Palestinian affairs. o Improve the quality of scholarship by increasing access to research opportunities. o Strengthen linkages among Palestinian, American, and foreign scholars and educational, cultural, and research institutions. o Encourage new generations of scholars to develop an interest in and expertise on Palestine. o Develop library resources to facilitate research. o Improve cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of Palestinian culture and society.

General information: Deadlines o Pre-proposals due September 30, 2015 o Notification of invitation to submit a full proposal November 10, 2015 o Full proposals due December 17, 2015 (only people invited to submit are eligible) Awards announced March 28, 2016 o Fellowship awards from $3, 000 - $6, 000 o While research may be conducted in either Arabic or English, final full proposals must be in English. o The Palestine Office will offer editorial assistance and advice, whenever possible, in developing full proposals.

Subject Areas/ topics o The research project must make a contribution to Palestinian Studies. Research can be in any area of Palestinian Studies, including the humanities, social sciences, law, health and sciences, environmental rights, and natural resources management. o Purely scientific research is not eligible for this fellowship.

Priority: Special Interdisciplinary Research o One fellowship will be awarded to researchers studying issues in Palestine from a crosscutting perspective of social and environmental sciences, focusing on the nexus of environmental affairs with human rights, gender or political analysis. o Potential fields could involve environmental rights, socio-political analyses of natural resource access or others.

Requirements o Research must take place in Palestine, Jordan, or Lebanon. o PARC funding is limited to one year of research. o Applicants must be post-doctoral scholars, established researchers, or full-time doctoral students enrolled in a recognized degree program. o Doctoral students must have fulfilled all preliminary requirements for the doctorate degree except the dissertation by the time research commences. The fellowship does not cover tuition fees.

No doctorate? No problem o Senior researchers without doctorates but with a record of academic publication are also eligible. o Applicants with a master's degree may only apply for a joint project with a postdoctoral scholar. o Individual and joint research is eligible i. e. research can be done by a group of researchers.

Incentives o Women applicants and scholars from the Gaza Strip are especially encouraged to apply.

Restrictions o PARC fellows who received grants in the last three years may not apply.

Previous fellowship topics (2015 -16) Issam Aburaya and Tamir Sorek Lori Allen Tawfiq Zayyad: A Sociological Biography The Ends of Revolution: An Oral History with Palestinian Activists in the First Intifada Ahmad Badran Stratification Consequences of Educational Choices: Elementary School Choice by Palestinians in Israel Iyad Badran Utilization of three silage by products in flattening lambs and lactating ewes Prehistoric Biodiversity of the West Bank, Palestine 'Our Arabs': Palestinians under Colonialism and Settler-Colonialism, 19481966 Israel/Palestine Faysal Bibi Arnon Degani Maisa Fakhoury Spatial Codes in Arab Towns in Israel

o The Effectiveness of a Counseling Program in Alleviating Psychological Alienation and its Impact on Improving the Quality of Life of Gazan University Students o The Performativity of the Palestinian Museum: Transnational Knowledge Production, Settler Colonialism, and the Values of the New o The Excavation Results of Khirbet et-Tireh o Itineraries of Development: Mobilizing Diaspora in Transnational Palestine-Chile o Drug Safety in the 'Wild West': Towards Promoting the Construction of a Pharmacovigilance System in Palestine o GLOBAL ART AT HOME: An Ethnography of Art and Palestine

Pre-proposals should include o (a) A 500 -750 word summary o (b) Curriculum vitae of no more than three pages o (c) A research budget indicating the amount requested o (d) A copy of graduate transcript(s) for doctoral students only o (e) A completed copy of the pre-proposal application form

Narrative summary A 500 -750 word summary outlining the following: o (1. ) What do you want to do? n This section should include a clear statement and description of your research topic (2. ) How will you go about doing it? n n This section addresses your research approach and methodology Includes a time frame for completion. o (3. ) Why is your research important? n n This section addresses how your study advances what we know on this topic Explains why your research is significant, specially in a Palestinian context.

Before we start o Reconsidering Research and the Scientific Method: Towards selfreflexive, critical research (indigenous/ decolonial)

Research and the Scientific method: Universal Applicability o Research is “an inquiry into the nature of, the reasons for, and the consequences of any particular set of circumstances, whether these circumstances are experimentally controlled or recorded just as they occur. ” o “The scientific method is one and same in the branches of science (natural, social, and formal) and that method is the method of all logically trained minds … The unity of all sciences consists alone in its methods, not its material. . ”

Understanding Research: A definition in two parts (Part I) o Research, whether intended for epistemological purposes or for practical applications, can be understood as the production of new knowledge that n advances a research question, problem or hypothesis on a specific topic n within a current theoretical context or debate, and n uses, analyzes and interprets data to answer the question, n according to the common conventions of academic writing in their respective disciplines.

Dissemination (Part II) o Researchers also seek to disseminate this new knowledge (results) in various forms of scholarly activity, including n presentation at conferences, n publication in peer-reviewed journals and, n in the case of university-related studies, 'white papers' or reports on university or program policies.

Why research? o Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it promotes the development of logical habits of thinking and organization. o Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i. e. , concern over practical problems initiates research; o Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work; o Desire to be of service to society; and o Desire to get respectability and solidify reputation of the researcher and the institution.

Ultimate goal o Desire to develop a self-reflexive scholarship, both discursive and analytical, inspired by critical, indigenous, and decolonization methodologies that emerge out of histories of oppression and exploitation. o These methodologies challenge the established methods of research and reflect upon them, so that doing research will contribute to the transformation of the nature of the researched object. n n In most natural sciences methods are employed, applied and explicitly stated, yet very rarely critically discussed. In the humanities, a method is never a given but a political choice, a necessity that follows the subject matter / trajectory of the research.

o How to develop the pre-proposal?

Who is your Audience? n Write your pre-proposal so anyone reading it can understand your plan o A good proposal is simultaneously comprehensible to non-experts, while also convincing to experts. o Keep highly-technical material in wellsignposted section(s); avoid it in the introduction. o Keep it interesting and tell a story

Project title o Research Title must be reflective of its topic/ problem: Mini-abstract. o Concise and descriptive: Put most important words first. o Omit phrases such as “An investigation of. . . “ o Catchy and informative. o Create the title last in the proposal writing process

1) Topic: What do you want to do? o Description of the problem in disciplinary or interdisciplinary terms: n Include a statement of the problem/issue; o It must answer the following questions: n What are you trying to investigate? n What are you trying to find out, determine or discover?

Original Research question/ angle o The proposed research must not have already been done - or must not appear to have been done. o It should be clear why the question is worth addressing. o The idea cannot just be a routine application of known techniques.

Identify your topic: Literature Review o Refer to and critically discuss relevant research done nationally or internationally on your research topic. o The literature review presents a coherent narrative (not disjointed and disconnected brief summaries of x number of studies on the topic), in which you develop broad ideas of what is already known in a field, and what questions are still unanswered. o This will help you further narrow the problem for investigation and highlight any theories that may exist to support developing hypotheses.

Framing the Research Problem: Critical debates o Situate the topic within focused and current (hot) debates in the field and give some background on the issue. o Place yourself within a larger national and international conversation about the topic under consideration. Make sure you proudly present your unique voice. o Demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the problem areas.

Questions to answer: o What is the state of the literature or science on this problem? What are the debates in the field about the topic under consideration? Are there gaps in the literature? n Synthesize current literature (within the past 5 years)

Successful Lit rev o Demonstrates your knowledge of the research problem and your understanding of theoretical and research issues related to your research question. o Maintains focus, unity and coherence o Avoids repetition and verbosity o Cites influential papers/ authorities in the field o Keeps up with current literature and recent developments o Evaluates cited papers critically o Avoids citing irrelevant or trivial references

Hero Narrative o Create a new research space, stake a new territory, identify niches and gaps in existing knowledge. o Gaps niches are identified by n arguing that previous research is wrong, n indicating a gap in previous research, n raising a question about previous research without arguing that it is completely wrong, and/ or n continuing a tradition that previous research has started. o What is your “hero narrative”? How will your study fill those gaps?

Research question or Hypothesis? o After providing the context or background to the study, researchers propose a research question or formulate a hypothesis. o Both seek to establish or predict relationships among variables.

Research Question o The research question proposes a relationship between two or more variables; it is stated in form of a question. o Three types of research questions: n Descriptive: seeks to identify and describe some phenomenon. n Differences: asks if there are differences between groups on some phenomenon. n Relationship: asks if two or more phenomena are related in some systematic manner.

Hypothesis o o o A hypothesis is declarative statement that establishes or predicts a cause and effect relationship between two or more variables. Hypotheses should be as specific as possible, realistic and feasible, and should be formulated with time and resource constraints in mind. Four kind of hypothesis: n Literary null—a “no difference” form in terms of theoretical constructs. n Operational null—a “no difference” form in terms of the operation required to test the hypothesis (most popular form) n Literary alternative—a form that states what you hope the results will show, presented in theoretical constructs. It is what you hope the hypothesis will be, in case the null hypothesis is rejected. n Operational alternative—Similar to the literary alternative except that the operations are specified.

How to do it? o Begin with a general statement of the problem area in disciplinary or interdisciplinary terms, with a focus on a specific research problem: Describe the major issue and sub-problems to be addressed by your research. o Discuss its originality and scope. o Give background on the issue and situate the problem in the context of current debate review or literature review: Provide the context and set the stage for your research. o Formulate your research question(s) or the problem you want to address as clearly as possible. o Set the scope (delimitation or boundaries) of your proposed research in order to provide a clear focus. o State your hypothesis or theory, if any, and identify the key independent and dependent variables of your study. o Provide definitions of key concepts, if necessary.

Build a case: o Convinces your reader that your proposed research will make a significant and substantial contribution to the literature (i. e. , resolving an important theoretical issue or filling a major gap in the literature) n Decide which facts best support the project (use accurate data) n Give the reader hope (avoid overstatement and overly emotional appeals) n Determine whether it is reasonable to portray the need as acute. n Demonstrate how your project addresses the need differently or better than other projects. n Avoid circular reasoning: Do not present the absence of your solution as the actual problem. n Define operational terms and key operative semantics.

2) How will you go about doing it? The question of methodology o Before beginning any research project, you must decide which methodology to use. o The choice of a methodology is one of the most important decisions in research and the most important decision about funding. o The methodology section answers many questions that reviewers and funders will want to know: n what are the methods you intend to use in order to assess and study your research and data? n Will you conduct experiments or study existing groups of individuals? n How you will collect numerical data or anecdotes? n How will you know that you have tested the correct populations of people or that your reasoning was sound?

Methodology: How research is done systematically o Methodology outlines the overall systematic and theoretical framework you will be using in conducting your research in order to answer a research question, and discuss how the research should be planned, structured and executed to comply with the criteria of the scientific method: n Positivism and logical positivism n Phenomenology (interpretivist approach) n Critical theory n Critical rationalism (Popper) n Scientific realism o It is discipline specific.

Why methodology? o Understanding methodology helps resolve many questions central to the research at the project level: n how the research problem has been defined n The theory or model used to investigate a particular topic n The hypothesis that can be formulated on the basis of the selected theory or model n the research methods and the logic behind them—why we are using a particular method or technique, not others. n the various steps that are generally adopted by a researcher in studying the research problem along with the logic behind them. n technique of analyzing data

Goals of Methodology section: o Offers sufficient information for the reader to determine whether the methodology is sound. n Some even argue that a good proposal should contain sufficient details for another qualified researcher to implement the study. o Demonstrates your knowledge of alternative methodologies and make sure you’ve explained why this methodology is best suited to the specific research questions in your proposal.

What and where is the problem? o In some fields the choice of methodology is more difficult. Reasons: n there is no fixed or predetermined methodology in these fields n methodology is a political choice. o Methodology links questions of institutional structures (power and rationality), ideological frameworks, and disciplinary conventions. o “Disciplines constitute a system of control in the production of discourse, fixing its limits through the action of an identity, taking the form of a permanent reactivation of the rules” (Foucault, “The Discourse on Language” 237).

Research Approaches at the project level: o o o o Descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at present. n The methods of research include survey methods of all kinds, including comparative and correlational methods. Analytical research is the analysis of facts or information already available, in order to make a critical evaluation of the material. Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/ business organization. Fundamental research (pure) is mainly concerned with generalizations and with the formulation of a theory. Conceptual vs. empirical Traditional vs. critical theory Qualitative/ quantitative research (distinct but complementary and overlapping): Qualitative research is often used for the study of social processes, or for a study of the reasons behind human behavior—that is, the why and how of social matters, while quantitative research focuses on the what, where, and when of the object of study.

Qualitative Research Methodologies o Historical (traditional, oral, genealogical, materialist) o Content/ discourse analysis / Ideological critique o Ethnographic (in-depth analytical descriptions of current systems, processes, and phenomena and/or understandings of the shared beliefs and practices of a particular group or culture. ) o Case-study o Meta-analysis (a statistical method which accumulates experimental and correlational results across independent studies) o Action o Contextual (formalist/ political) o Narrative Research (studying a single person and gathering data through the collection of stories that are used to construct a narrative about the individual’s experience and the meanings he/she attributes to them. )

Quantitative Research Methodologies o Experimental o Correlational o Single-case study o Causal-comparative

Other o Participatory action research o Mixed methodologies: Crossdisciplinary methodologies

Methodology is not method o Methodology and method or technique are not interchangeable. o Methodology encompasses the methods or techniques to be used—that is, the means or modes of data collection or how a specific result is to be calculated o A methodology is not in itself an instrument, or method, technique or procedure for doing things.

Method and technique o Research techniques refer to the behavior and instruments we use in performing research operations such as making observations, recording data, techniques of processing data and the like. o Research methods refer to the behavior and instruments used in selecting and constructing research techniques. n Chart (enclosed): Methods encompass techniques but are also treated as interchangeable.

Qualitative Research: Components o o o o o Describe the design of the study— the approach to data collection, analysis and report writing. Describe the characteristics of the design Subjects/ participants in the study and steps taken to gain access to the subjects (ethical considerations). Methods/ instruments: Indicate types of data collection used Procedure - How do you plan to carry out your study? What activities are involved? How long does it take? Describe the process of “reduction” or interpretation that you will use to organize the data, and discuss any matrices or coding systems/ programs you will be using Discuss the issues of internal validity—accuracy of the information and whether it matches reality. Discuss limitations to generalizability: the purpose of qualitative data is not to generalize findings but to form an interpretation of events (Optional) A statement about the researcher’s role (unobtrusive observer, a participant observer, or a collaborator), biases, and past experiences with the topic, the setting or the subjects.

Quantitative Research: Components o Design: What kind of design do you choose? Is it a questionnaire study or a laboratory experiment? o Subjects or participants: Who will take part in your study? What kind of sampling procedure do you use? o Methods/Instruments: What kind of measuring instruments or questionnaires do you use? Why do you choose them? Are they valid and reliable? o Procedure: How do you plan to carry out your study? What activities are involved? How long does it take? o Results: Although there are no results at this stage, you need to have some idea about what kind of data you will be collecting, and what statistical procedures will be used in order to answer your research question or test you hypothesis.

Writing in Arts, Literary & Cultural Studies o Identify a topic and place it in the context of the current literature/ debates. o Locate a niche or gap in the existing literature/ debates: n n Scholars have always agreed that this phenomenon should be described as [x], these scholars failed to note that. . Scholars have never been able to agree about whether we should describe this phenomenon as [a] or as [b] o Define your position and goal: formulate your research problem and thesis that you will substantiate. o Choose a structure that leads to your thesis and make the structure of your argument explicit. o Relate to the work of other scholars and critics throughout the analysis and discussion.

Limitations of the study o Limitations are shortcomings, conditions or influences that cannot be controlled by the researcher that place restrictions on your methodology and conclusions. o Any limitations that might influence the results should be mentioned: n your analysis n the nature of self-reporting n the instruments you utilized n the sample n time constraints

Research Plan and timeline o Map out the activities to be followed and the timeline of the work to be completed. o You want to be sure that your investigation is feasible for the timeframe that you have. n Be realistic: Do not underestimate or overestimate the amount of time that the various stages of research will take. n Factor in any external constraints and/ or deadlines. n Keep your goals and objectives for the proposal in mind when setting deadlines for progress. n Consider what benchmarks you will use to determine your progress. o Indicate benchmarks (lit rev, writing the draft, final submission) in a projected timetable, chart, timeline or flowchart.

For further assistance o Sample research timeline: http: //www. ojjdp. gov/grantees/sample_resrch _timeln. pdf o Basic timetable: http: //bcs. bedfordstmartins. com/bedfordresea rcher/activities/docs/Project. Timeline. pdf o Timeline for Action Templates: http: //www. nefstem. org/teacher_guide/plan/ti meline. htm o Research paper navigator: http: //www. library. tufts. edu/researchpaper/

3) Why is your research important? o Describe the relevance and significance of the research question or problem to Palestinian studies. o Present the rationale of your proposed study and clearly indicate why it is worth doing. o Answer the “so what? ” question n Present the facts and evidence that support the need for the project.

Goals of the research o o o Describe the goals you hope to accomplish in the research project. n Goals are more global in nature, affecting larger populations over longer time frames The goal of this study is to. . . . overcome the difficulty with. . . . discover what. . . . understand the causes or effects of. . . . refine our current understanding of. . . . provide a new interpretation of. . . . understand what makes ___ successful or unsuccessful It is then followed by a paragraph which describes the objectives that support the goal of the research project. n Objectives are more specific and defined in nature—they are measurable, tangible, concrete, and achievable outcomes of the project in a specified time period.

Anticipated outcomes of research o Include immediate outcomes of research. o Indicate the extent of the original contribution you envisage to make (in the subject area and literature or potential practical or policy implications) o Potential for continuity of research in the future o Potential for publication and presentation in a conference.

Budget o Provide a realistic estimated financial plan (a dollar figure) of the research project, indicating the amount requested. n Underestimating or overestimating expenses could create, in the reviewers’ eyes, a lack of confidence in your ability to successfully complete the grant. o Summarize the list of budget items and the calculations you have done to arrive at a dollar figure for each item. o A narrative portion of the budget is used to explain the line items in the budget. o Projects that include travel or need large amounts of funding should be specific about benefits and reasons for the cost. o Keep in mind that funders “want to see the money is doing the job described in the proposal. "

Final Matters o Copy-edit your proposal: Read your proposal several times to check for basic grammar, spelling, and stylistic errors. n Grammar and spelling errors, as well as sloppy writing, undermine your ethos, authority and credibility as a writer. n Check for appropriate flow to the manuscript without abrupt transitions. n Seek professional help if necessary o Review-revise-rewrite: n Review your manuscript with your own brutally honest criticism. n Seek honest and critical peer-review. n Revise until you are satisfied and the manuscript is the best it can be. n Any statement not supported by your findings or the published literature should be deleted.

Final matters o o References: Keep a running list of all references as you work through the proposal. You will need to have this list to avoid plagiarism and chances are you will need to go back to certain references throughout the entire research experience. This includes all textbooks, reference books, journal articles, Internet sources, etc. n Use the appropriate form of citations for your field. Appendices: The purpose of an appendix is to display documents which are relevant to main text, but whose presence in the text would disturb rather than enhance the flow of the argument or writing. It shows how thoroughly you have prepared your research project n Results of the literature search, pilot data, data collection forms, patient information sheets, and consent forms can all be added as appendices to include documents, pilot study material, questions for interviews, survey instruments, explanatory statement to participants, etc.

Common reasons for rejection o The topic is not relevant, interesting, and has been already covered widely; topic is novel/ relevant, but does not need special attention. o Methodology insufficient to address the hypothesis; o Improper review of literature; no critical context. o Poor statement of the hypothesis; o The hypothesis is clear, but the manuscript fails to address it; o Contradictions in the manuscript o Insufficient rhetorical/ statistical power; o Conclusion based on the data not provided or generated; o Inconsistent and confusing use of terminologies; o Avoidable blatant spelling errors; o Failure to cite all tables, figures, and references in the manuscript.

General Discussion o Sample methodology statements: n Discuss methodology, methods, and significance in groups. o Analyze the methodology, method, and significance in the PARC topics list. o Identify your research methodology and discuss the various methods you usually employ in your research—what do you gain or lose by using this methodology and these methods?