I'm a first year undergraduate at my university.
My university is providing opportunities for students to conduct small research projects on of an area of our choice forming groups of 3-4 students. These projects are funded under a special project and each group is provided with a small grant.
Each group should first submit a proposal to a supervisor(whose a staff member of the university) prior to start of our project.
My group has decided to conduct a research under the topic 'what virtual/remote learning mean to the future of higher education'.
We're working on preparing a questionnaire to be distributed among students and relevant faculty members.
We hope to prepare both proposal and questionnaire and then submit it to be accepted by a supervisor whose interested.
We're still on the process of preparing a project proposal and in that we're required to fill in a section containing on how we're planning to spend the grant on behalf of the expenses related to our project. Since everything is going virtual in the current period, we don't seem to have valid expenses(travel, stationary etc.) to be included in above section.
Will we be able to apply to conduct a research under this programme?
Or can anyone see any miscellaneous expenses that shoulf be included which we'renot seeing?
Any help is highly appreciated. Thanks!
The first question should be:
Have you used virtual/remote learning? Yes No
If no, why not?
If yes, you have a bunch of questions you can pose. I'll leave that up to you and your group.
Valid expenses could include these:
~ Strong wifi connections (pay Comcast's or AT&T's or ??? monthly fee for a high speed contract)
~ Laptop computer(s) that can handle high speed wifi well, & that have good camera and mic systems built in. (For whom would you provide these?)
~ License to use Zoom or Ring Central for online meetings.
~ License to use Google's G-Suite
What other expenses can you think of?
Thank you very much for the responses!
It's great to hear that your university is providing opportunities for research projects and that you and your group have a topic in mind. Let's address your concerns about the project proposal and the section on expenses.
1. Project Proposal: When writing your project proposal, make sure to clearly outline the objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes of your research. Include a brief literature review to highlight the relevance and significance of your chosen topic. In this case, you can discuss the importance of virtual/remote learning in higher education and its potential impact on the future. Make sure to explain how your research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
2. Expenses: Although you mentioned that most things are virtual, there may still be some expenses you can include in your proposal. Here are a few suggestions:
- Online survey platforms: If you plan to distribute questionnaires online, you can mention the cost of using a professional survey platform, such as SurveyMonkey or Google Forms.
- Data analysis software: If you anticipate using specialized software for data analysis, such as SPSS or Excel add-ins, you can include the cost of purchasing or accessing these tools.
- Transcription services: If you plan to conduct interviews or focus groups and need to transcribe the recordings, you can include the cost of hiring transcription services.
- Incentives for participants: To encourage participation in your study, you may consider offering incentives (e.g., gift cards or small monetary rewards). This can be included in your budget.
Remember to estimate the expenses as accurately as possible. If you truly cannot identify any valid expenses due to the virtual nature of your research, it's essential to be transparent about this in your proposal. Clearly explain that your project will not require any significant financial resources beyond the access to technology and online platforms.
It's important to check your university's guidelines for funding eligibility and any specific requirements for the grant application. Additionally, reach out to your supervisor or contact the program coordinator for clarification if you have any doubts.
Good luck with your research project!