BVC Applied Research Internal Grant Proposal Guidelines
We are excited that you are looking into applying to the BVC Applied
Research Internal Grant. Internal Grants fund research from first
time and experienced researchers; individuals and small groups;
staff and faculty; and research that is purely a literature review and
research that involves data collection. What is common is that the
grants build BVC capacity to conduct research that can produce
practical results with application to real world situations.
Please review these guidelines as you think about and plan your
research. The Applied Research & Evaluation (AR&E) unit is available
to assist at every step of the process of applying and successfully
conducting your research.
Process Guidelines
Submitting a Proposal



Submit your completed proposal to Agnes (Scottie) Ray, Applied Research
Officer (sray@bowvalleycollege.ca)
The completed proposal should be a maximum of 5 pages and should utilize
the Proposal Outline
You must have the support and signature of your Supervisor (Dean /
Coordinator / Department Director) for your application to be considered
complete
Developing an Idea
It is paramount that applied research initiatives supported by Bow Valley College be
of value and significance to the program, department, discipline, and/or the College
community. Participating in research activities also contributes to the ongoing
professional development of faculty and staff; benefits adult learners; and
potentially impacts the social, cultural, and economic vitality of the greater
community.
The Internal Grant supports ingenuity through research that can result in changes
in BVC; it is not intended to fund department or college operations or to fund
projects that are considered course or program evaluations.
January, 2015
Page 1
We use the following definitions as guides:
 Applied Research involves a systematic investigation to establish facts,
principles, or generalizable knowledge using an established method to
produce practical results with application to real world situations.
 Evaluation is a systematic process of gathering information about a
program, course, or service that enables well-informed decisions to be made.
It involves studying the characteristics of the program, course, or service,
including a systems view of the structure, activities, and organization.
The distinction between applied research and evaluation is not always clear; and
there are applied research projects that involve evaluations. However, applied
research projects and evaluation projects are conducted by different units at BVC.
Therefore, it is important that you discuss your project with your supervisor and/or
AR&E to ensure that the project qualifies for the Internal Grant before you go too
far into the application.
Policy Compliance
All proposals need to comply with the following policies related to Applied Research:
 Applied Research and the Promotion of Innovation at BVC Policy (500-3-1)
 Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Human Participants Policy (500-3-2)
 Integrity in Research and Scholarship Policy (500-3-3)
Proposal Review Process




After you submit your proposal, it will be assessed for completeness and
submitted to the Proposal Review Committee.
The Proposal Review Committee members will review applications and meet
to discuss them approximately one to two weeks after the submission
deadline.
Applicants will be notified of the decision regarding their application within
one week of the Proposal Review Committee meeting.
o If your application was not approved, you will receive feedback about
your application from the Proposal Review Committee. You are
encouraged to revise your application and re-submit at subsequent
Internal Grant competitions.
o If your application is conditionally approved, you will receive feedback
about your application from the Proposal Review Committee. Dr.
Augusto (Aggie) Legaspi will meet with you to discuss revisions to you
application. If you choose to re-submit, you will have two weeks in
which to make the necessary revisions. Your resubmitted proposal will
then be reviewed. If all necessary changes have been made, you will
receive your approval letter within one week of resubmission along
with the Conditions for Funding and the Guidelines for Expenses.
o If your application is approved, you will receive an approval letter
along with the Conditions for Funding and the Guidelines for Expenses.
The final acceptance of an application will depend on the quality of
information provided in the application and the amount of funds available.
January, 2015
Page 2
Assessment of the Application
The application sections are assessed and scored. The sections on Purpose,
Research Question, Literature Support, and Research Design carry the most weight
in the assessment. Therefore, it is important that these sections show coherence,
consistency, and clarity.
After Approval
Please note that:
 Approval is granted only for the project and purposes described in the
proposal.
 Any significant modifications to the research project must be submitted to
the Applied Research Officer for approval (this also includes any changes with
regard to the researchers involved).
 A copy of the final report must be sent to the AR&E within 90 days of the
project completion or termination date.
 A Final Report Guideline is available – contact the AR&E to obtain a copy.
 A commitment to a dissemination plan must be made that includes a
presentation at BVC, either at a Research Showcase event, or a “Brown Bag
Lunch” session, both sponsored by AR&E.
Will your project require an Ethics Review?



If your research will involve human participants, you will need to complete an
application for Ethics Review (after receiving Internal Grant approval). Please
note that you cannot recruit participants or collect data until after you
receive approval from the Research Ethics Board.
Please indicate on your Internal Grant application (e.g., in the Research
Design section) that you are aware that an Ethics Review is required for your
research.
You do not need to submit a completed ethics application with your Internal
Grant application.
Application Guidelines
This section provides guidelines on some sections of the application form. The
relationships among all the elements of the proposal should be clear. This is
especially true between the Purpose, Research Question/s, Literature Support, and
Research Design – they should logically flow, support each other, be consistent,
and show that you have thought of the implications of your decisions. Do not
hesitate to ask the Applied Research & Evaluation unit for assistance throughout the
process of conceptualizing your project.
January, 2015
Page 3
Abstract
Provide a succinct summary that includes the research topic, research question/s,
purpose of the research, research design, and the proposed analysis. The abstract
should be approximately 250 words.
Purpose
Your research could do one of the following:
o
o
o
o
Support program, department, discipline, and/or learner success;
Support and contribute to the social, cultural and/or economic vitality of the
greater Bow Valley College community;
Strengthen the capacity of the faculty/staff in applied research; or
Support commercialization or innovation of a tool or process.
Convincingly explain how the knowledge arising from your research can be applied
and how it leads to any of the above purposes. Please note that even if your
research come up with results that are contrary to your hypothesis or expectations,
there is still knowledge arising from it that can be applied.
Research Question/s
In this section, identify the specific question/s your research will address. Ensure
that these questions align with the research purpose.
Literature Support
Include at least five sources from the past five years. Include older sources only if
they provide a historical context or if the work is considered a seminal piece on the
subject matter. You need to provide a rationale otherwise.
The RGO Library and Learning Commons has knowledgeable and helpful staff and
extensive resources and that can assist you with your literature search. They are
more than happy to assist you.
Research Design
For both types of research - involving a pure literature review or involving data
collection - you need to make the case as to why your planned literature
search/data collection design is the most appropriate for answering the research
question/s. Include what you see as the strengths and limitations of your design in
relation to your study and the setting. Convey that you have thought of the
possibilities and have weighed the pros and cons of the alternatives.
Dissemination Plan
The objective of the dissemination plan is for the knowledge arising from your
research to be applied by you or by the practitioners/end-users who learn about
your research. We use the term dissemination to refer to any strategy that shares
the knowledge arising from your research to practitioners and end-users.
January, 2015
Page 4
AR&E may invite you to present in a Brown Bag Lunch, the BVC Research
Showcase, and/or other opportunities that arise. The College and your
department/school may also have regular opportunities (e.g., CEFL Share the
Wealth). You can include conferences or publications in which you would like to
present/submit. Other ways to reach end-users include a community forum,
workshop, and presentation in a specialty association. Talk to your supervisor,
colleagues, or AR&E to explore other forms of external dissemination.
For more information, see the Applied Research Policy or contact
Dr. Aggie Legaspi, Lead Researcher
REMEMBER – WE CAN HELP AND SUPPORT YOU WITH EVERY STEP
Applied Research and Evaluation
January, 2015
Page 5