Student Inquiry and Research Program Details
The Student Plan of Inquiry/Research Proposal
The investigation plan is documented in the Student Plan of Inquiry/Research Proposal form which addresses the more significant aspects of the investigation. Based on inquiry standards, the investigation plan outlines a progression of learning experiences that is designed and pursued in response to the student's question. The student is expected to consult with the advisor while developing this plan to ensure that proposal rework is minimized.
Reviewing the proposal evaluation form prior to submission to the SIR Coordinator may help the student to identify issues which, if left unaddressed, could require significant reworking of the proposal. Once completed and signed by the advisor, the student submits this form to the SIR Coordinator for evaluation and feedback. When all feedback has been satisfactorily addressed by the student, the SIR Coordinator approves the proposal and the focused investigation begins in earnest.
Key Considerations
While all sections of the proposal are important and all must be completed prior to submission for approval, below are some key considerations to assist the student during the early stages of proposal planning.
The Focusing Question (Section II)
Key to the investigation is a focusing question that will be pursued. This question is developed by the student in response to passion, curiosity, and interest and is based on what is known about a particular topic. The nature of the question should suggest a learning experience that promotes analytic thinking, knowledge generation and application, and construction of meaning through mindful investigation.
A classification system of students' questions may help the student formulate questions appropriate for SIR investigation proposals. Perusing abstracts of past student investigations may also help clarify the nature and scope of viable investigations.
The Description (Section III)
The description of the investigation, section III of the proposal, serves to document background knowledge and to describe, in detail, how the focusing question will be pursued in relation to what the student knows. The description should declare what is known about the subject of the investigation and how one got to the point of wanting to carry out the work. Why is the investigation important and interesting? What is specifically going to be done to answer the focusing question?
The Bibliography (Section VI)
A bibliography, section VI of the proposal, documents the background research for the investigation. The listed bibliography should also include materials that will be used as the investigation progresses. The bibliography will change and grow depending on the path the investigation takes. As the investigation develops, the bibliography should reflect use of more primary sources as knowledge deepens and the investigation will grow and become more meaningful and sophisticated. Wise use of research resources will yield a rich bibliography for the work. The bibliography should conform to the suggested Investigation Citation Format; a field- or journal-specific format may be used if all citation information is included.
The Detailed Plan (Section IX)
Section IX of the proposal includes a detailed investigation/research plan. This is a timeline that includes bi-weekly benchmarks for accomplishment. This plan will help the student define the work to be accomplished in order to answer the focusing question. It should help determine whether what the student intends on accomplishing is actually doable. As the investigation proceeds, this section will also help to determine whether the student is falling behind on completing the work or whether the project's intended goal and perhaps focusing question is changing based on the ongoing work. The detailed plan should also document a regular schedule for meetings with the advisor for substantive discussion of the investigation.
Human and Animal Use (Section XII)
If the proposal involves Human/Animal use, section XII must be addressed and special approval must be obtained. Any research involving humans or animals is subject to institutional review, because this type of research is federally regulated. IMSA has a Human and Animal Subjects Review Committee (HASRC) that addresses this issue. For investigations that involve Human or Animal subjects, special guidance is needed to write successful proposals. In this case, care must also be taken to allow for a longer review and approval process. The SIR Coordinator will contact you if your proposal requires HASRC review and approval.
Safety Considerations (Section XIII)
When working with potentially hazardous materials, section XIII of the proposal must be addressed. Of utmost importance to every investigation is the safety of the student conducting it. Consideration of potential safety issues at the start of the work and discussion of how risks can be avoided will help ensure that no one is harmed. A safety review must be conducted with the advisor and all safety issues must be fully discussed in the proposal, including how to avoid, handle, and dispose of hazardous materials, processes, and/or equipment.
Ethical and Societal Implications (Section XIV)
A brief description of ethical and societal implications serves to complete the proposal. If you are unclear as to what the ethical or societal implications of a particular investigation may be, please consult your advisor or the SIR Coordinator for further discussion and examples of suitable statements for this section.