How to write successful research proposals?

Abstract

All research requires a series of inputs to perform with success, because each of its activities consumes different resources, as substances or materials, processing equipment, information and valuable time of many people. Therefore, you must have is timely, and sufficient economic support to make it in time and form. A proposal or research (research proposal) project is a written request addressed to an organism that can sponsor this kind of work. A critical review of documents relevant, of various formats, focused on the preparation of proposals for research applicants of funds, and was made in order to find the essential elements and the main deficiencies of this type of projects. Based on descriptors associated with research, scholarships and funding proposals, information was sought in Current Contents Connect, Google Scholar and Library of Congress. Documents weighted, selected for their relevance, were integrated with the EndNote Reference Manager. With concepts which a matrix was constructed to determine the main components of research proposals and the authors’ observations in this regard were obtained from the analysis. An index was built for it will be considered the critical points of the proposals. In formats and guides reviewed and treaties in specialized works, it was observed a structure consisting of the elements comprising the proposals. Matches were found on aspects that the authors consider basic to make a research proposal can be approved. Researchers and institutions should know clearly the range of funding agencies available in their areas of knowledge and the schedule of calls for proposals. The essential contents of the proposals includes describing and highlighting the proposed solution to the problem and their level of innovation or originality; the purpose of the research through a question or hypothesis; the inclusion of a detailed budget that clearly defines the destination of the resources requested; a design which neatly reflects the work to be performed; provide documentary evidence that support the experience and preparation of the applicant, and conform strictly to the formats requested. This last because in science the way is to fund and that the scientific merit of a research proposal is valued, it must comply with aspects of form, so many proposals are rejected more than its content, by the negligence of the proponent researcher, during its elaboration.