Section 2. Research Proposal

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Contents
Formal Research Proposal
Identifying Data Needed
2.1 Contents
A.
B.



C.
All Research Applicants (RAs) must complete an MLDSC External Researcher Application.
The MLDS Center External Research Proposal & Application (Section 10) includes the most frequently asked questions from the MLDS Governing Board, Research and Policy Advisory Board (RPB), and MLDS Center staff. Additional information on each of the parts of the Application are included in Appendix 1.
The following documents must be uploaded at the time the application is submitted:
  • Complete MLDSC External Researcher Application;
  • Formal Research Proposal (See 2.2 Formal Research Proposal below);
  • Curriculum vitae for the RA who will serve as the principal investigator for the project;
  • IRB documentation or statement of exemption, if available at the time of the application;
  • Data Request Template; and
  • Grant Application Checklist, if applicable.
2.2 Formal Research Proposal
A.
A formal research proposal must be submitted as part of the application. Proposals should be no longer than 15 pages in length, excluding references. The formal proposal may take the format most suited to the RA. The formal proposal should expand on and fully explain the information included in the application. A complete research proposal will include the following:
  • A title page with the project title, the name of the RA who will serve as the principal investigator, and the date of submittal;
  • An abstract;
  • A descriptive narrative of the research
  • Problem or issue under consideration;
  • A detailed explanation of how the research:
     - Aligns with the MLDS Research Agenda;
      - Evaluates a state or federal education program;
      - Is cross-sector research; and
      - Provides a benefit to the State of Maryland;
  • A clear research question or hypothesis;
  • Description of the methods and procedures proposed;
  • The RA’s available resources, such as staffing and funding;
  • A description of a Center product and plans for further developed works (see B. Center Product and C. Further Developed Work of this section); and
  • A timeline for completing the project.
B.
Center Product
  • As stated in section 1.5D, Maryland law restricts access to data in the MLDS to authorized staff of the Center. Accordingly, no project will move forward unless the RA successfully completes all required steps for becoming staff of the Center. As staff of the Center, the work conducted must be work for the Center. All proposed research conducted by an RA pursuant to this document must result in a product for the Center.
  • The Center product may take on many forms. Center staff will assist the RA in selecting the most appropriate form for the Center product. Some examples include:
      - A series of tables and graphs developed for a dashboard in conjunction with Center staff;
      - Public presentation through the MLDSC Research Series, or
      - A summary report of the research and findings.
  • The Center product must:
      - Convey in non-technical language the original research question, the results and analysis of the
        completed research, and implications for policy makers or practitioners;
      - Include an identified audience; and
      - A method for dissemination.
  • The Center product is derived from the research conducted pursuant to the research proposal, but does not have to report on all facets of the research conducted. For example, the RA may conduct in depth preliminary analyses and statistical tests to determine the best method to use for the research and the appropriateness of the method. The Center product may include a brief description of the method chosen and the findings. The explanation of the preliminary analyses and appropriateness of the method does not necessarily need to be included in the Center product.
C.
Further Developed Work
  • The Center product must be submitted prior to the further development of the research product.
  • The further developed works occur after System access is terminated and, therefore may only utilize aggregate, de-identified data sets that were developed as part of the work for the Center product.
  • The researcher may further develop the research for purposes such as writing a paper, journal article, or dissertation using the research conducted pursuant to the research proposal and consistent with the main research question in the original research proposal.
  • The further developed work may include an in-depth discussion of the research on the topic, the statistical methods utilized, why the methods were chosen, what the findings are and how the findings advance scholarship in the field.
  • The further developed work may not utilize new or different data or analyses other than what was created for the Center product.
2.3 Identifying Data Needed
A.
Prior to submitting a research proposal, RAs are strongly encouraged to determine if the Center has sufficient data for the intended research. To do this RAs should
B.

C.
Once the RA has determined that the Center has sufficient data for the RA’s intended research, the RA must identify data for the proposed research using the Data Request Template.
The data identified on the RA’s Data Request Template must be consistent with the research proposal.