Empirical Grant Description

Empirical Grants are generally used to conduct research in an area of interest. These grants may be used once a research topic has been clearly defined and the student is ready to collect and analyze data.

Funding for Empirical Research ($3,500 individual/$5,000 group) can help with future purchases of: research supplies, books, software, special training fees, or other research costs related to the student’s work.

Students may be awarded only one empirical grant per funding cycle and the project may take more than one term to complete.

Empirical research includes the following categories:

Descriptive:

Focuses on expanding knowledge on current issues through a process of data collection. Descriptive studies are used to describe the behavior of a sample population. In a descriptive study, only one variable is required to conduct the study. The three main purposes of descriptive research are describing, explaining, and validating the findings. For example, a study conducted to know if top-level management leaders in the 21st century possess the moral right to receive a huge sum of money from the company profit.

Explanatory:

Explanatory research or causal research is conducted to understand the impact of certain changes in existing standard procedures. Conducting experiments is the most popular form of explanatory research.

Empirical Grant - Additional Student Expectations

• Obtain and maintain certifications as needed for human subject research, animal research, laboratory and other environmental health, HIPAA, etc.
• Conduct the research project under the supervision of the faculty mentor and as proposed in the application. Substantial deviations from the original project must be discussed with the Undergraduate Research Grant Committee UAC immediately (and if applicable: amended with the IRB as required).

Empirical Grant Proposal - What to prepare:

Related Experience/Coursework

Describe courses you have taken and other relevant experience that provides you with the necessary background to understand and successfully complete your proposed project.

Project Abstract

(300 word limit)
Provide a short and clear description of what you propose to do and why this is interesting/relevant. Make sure it is understandable to a reviewer outside your field.

Literature Review

(750 word minimum)
Provide any relevant background using cited sources and explaining how it applies to your project. Make clear that you understand where the project lies in broader context and exhibit that you are engaged in the project enough already to be able to effectively pursue the project. Provide a clear theoretical background/framework for your proposed research: What research has been done in the field already? what is known/isn't known, which question are you therefore trying to answer? How does the existing research inform your hypothesis/expected outcome? How does it inform your choice of methods?

Methods

Provide a detailed description of your methods. Be sure to comply with the standards for your field, and make sure the methods are appropriate for addressing your research question/testing your hypotheses. Be precise and complete. Make sure to use clear and accessible language so that your methods can be understood by reviewers outside your field. Be sure to mention whether your project will need, for example, ethical approval from the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) in the case of research with human participants, and schedule time in your timeline for preparing/submitting your IRB and waiting for revisions/approval.

Project Timeline

Provide an explanation of the activities to be undertaken and the timeline allotted for each activity. Be as detailed and precise as possible.  Make sure to show the reviewers you understand what it takes to complete the project (e.g. make sure to include IRB approval for Research with Human Participants, implementing/coding your online experiment, sufficient time to recruit participants, collect data, analyze the data, etc. Whatever the relevant steps are for your research project. Ask your faculty mentor for advice on what to include.) Explain the timeline and include more specific details.

Statement of Impact

(500 word limit)
How will your research impact your field? What are the social, economic, and/or environmental impacts of your research? The impact should be clear to those outside of your field.

Project Benefits

(500 word limit)
Describe how this project benefits YOUR education and future goals. The benefits should be clear to people outside of your field.

Detailed Budget

Provide a detailed itemized budget. This must include: the names of the item(s) to be purchased, the number of items, the cost per item, and any other pertinent information. Make sure your budget is in compliance with the UAC, Departmental, and UROG restrictions, and is reasonable and realistic.

Budget Justification

Explain why the items in your budget are essential to the progression of your research. Make sure these explanations are reasonable and can be understood by people outside your field. Make sure to include all big expenses, especially those whose use is not obvious to people outside of your field. The budget Justification is in addition to the Detailed Budget.

Note: budget restrictions and requirements apply, please see the budget and finance section for detailed information.