Writing a research proposal or brief

This chapter outlines how practitioner-researchers can develop proposals for research that are both reactive and proactive. Most research and evaluation proposals are developed in response to specific Expressions of Interest and Invitations to Tender by funding bodies and will be referred to herein as reactive proposals. This chapter will also look at proactive proposals, developed by the practitioner-researcher relating to specific social policy issues, and submitted to research funding bodies issuing open calls for research projects. The characteristics of a good proposal (of either type) will be discussed from both a researcher and commissioner point of view. For those practitioners who find themselves commissioning research or evaluations, this chapter will provide a useful framework to ensure that your responses are more readily comparable. Commissioners (and practitioners thinking of developing proactive proposals) will be well advised to allow sufficient time to develop the brief/proposal and discuss their brief/proposal with colleagues.

By the end of this chapter the readers should be able to: • identify the main types of funding opportunity • identify the main sources of research funding for the subject area • understand the bidding process • understand the importance of political and legal context of funders • be able to express the aims and objectives of the research • identify a set of answerable research questions • present a methodology that answers those research questions • accurately cost the proposed research methodology • develop a realistic timetable for the research • write a research brief calling on practitioner-researchers to tender