What Is The Concept Paper

How to write a concept paper finer

What is a concept newspaper?

Just put, a concept newspaper is a preliminary document that sets out to explain what a proposed study is about, why information technology is existence undertaken, and how it will be carried out. It scrutinizes a concept or idea and provides an overview of the project a researcher wants to embark on.

A researcher might need to write a concept paper to obtain permission to undertake the enquiry projection or to seek financial support for it. This means that a well-framed and compelling concept newspaper has high chances of convincing the target reader that the proposed research project is worth carrying out. In other words, an impressive concept paper might help a researcher secure the approvals or grants they are looking for.

Why write a concept paper?

Concept papers are typically prepared by entrepreneurs working on a concern proposal or product, or by students and researchers in academia. Such documents are aimed at securing feedback on a research thought and seeking potential investors or funders. In fact, such a document might even help determine whether a projection idea is feasible in the first place.

In academia, a concept paper might exist needed earlier an undergraduate, chief'due south, or doctoral candidate commences work on a research project with a supervisor. Fifty-fifty advanced career researchers or main investigators might need to draft a concept paper when submitting a project proposal to a funding body to obtain the necessary grants.

Listed below are some reasons why concept papers are important.

ane. To explore and aggrandize an thought: Researchers tin can use concept papers to transform an incipient research idea into a focused, high-quality study proposal. The paper is also a ways to obtain feedback that tin can be used to strengthen a detailed proposal at a later stage.

ii. To depict the interest of funding agencies : Through an effective concept paper, an investigator tin can justify why their projection is worthy of funding. If the projection is within the mission of the funding body and has potential to advance the field, the investigator has a high chance of success in obtaining the required grants.

3. To place potential flaws or gaps beforehand: Putting in time and endeavour in writing a concept paper volition help develop a focused description of the project and volition permit the researcher to examine the trouble from all angles. At early stages, experts or funders might spot potential gaps and weaknesses in the proposed project. Accordingly, the researcher can place solutions and meliorate the proposal (e.thousand., in terms of the goals or methodology).

iv. To serve as the foundation of the full proposal: A concept paper is preliminary, as it precedes a full proposal. Funding agencies often ask for concept papers before the full proposal submission. This helps assess whether the identified experimental methods are appropriate and can be performed within the specific timeframe drawn up for the project.

v. To help a researcher stick to project timelines: A concept paper defines a timeline, which helps the investigator to go on the project on rail, manage time effectively, and reach the targeted milestones successfully.

How should a concept newspaper be structured?

A concept paper could be within five pages for proposals for main's or PhD projects. Concept papers written as role of funding applications might even be upwards to 20 pages long. The format and flow of the paper would depend on the type of project and expected outcome.

Funding bodies requesting concept papers might provide a template or format, which should be adhered to. Notwithstanding, if templates or formats are non specified, a concept newspaper may be structured according to the master elements described below.

one. An impactful title: The title should exist sufficiently informative and leave a lasting impression. It should reflect the purpose and significance of the study. The championship should not be too long (ideally within 15 words). The title could even exist in the form of a question.

2. A clear mission argument: In a few sentences, the study objective(due south) or enquiry question should be stated. Given that the main objective of a concept newspaper is to convince the reader that the proposed project is worth executing, it must convey the novelty and research rationale in a convincing mode.

three. A brief yet effective overview: A concept paper should present a survey of the problem, supported past a preliminary literature review of the research topic. However, the review need not exist too detailed. The newspaper should provide a summary of what is already known near the topic and an explanation of what noesis gaps the research is expected to fill up. Any contradictory theories may too be indicated.

4. An outline of the proposed methods: The methods that the researcher plans to use to respond the research question should be described. This section would comprehend ethical issues (if applicable), experimental materials and methods, the type of information to be collected, and the methods by which the data will be collected and analyzed. The estimated time to accomplish unlike research goals should besides exist indicated.

5. A argument of the expected implications: A concept paper would be incomplete without a curtailed department on brusque-term and long-term impacts of the research, potential applications, touch on guild and policies, and whatever other future visions. Know how to write a argument of the trouble in a step-by-step fashion.

What are the key points to recollect when drafting a concept paper?

1. Keep the reader in mind: If the concept paper targets experts in the field or potential collaborators/partners, it should be tailored accordingly, east.g., it can contain technical language. If the audience comprises potential sponsors/funders, the concept paper should exist streamlined, keeping in mind their priorities and requirements. Such a version should contain minimal jargon and be hands digestible by non-specialists.

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2. Notation that a concept newspaper is not a periodical commodity: Concept papers differ from journal articles in that the chief aim of a concept paper is to convince a sponsor of the feasibility and significance of a project. In that sense, it is akin to a sales pitch! Information technology should highlight the project'south purpose and impact. To strengthen one'south case, previously awarded grants or published papers may as well be indicated.

3. Make a practiced impression: While a concept paper should be cogent and compelling, it goes without saying that the certificate should be well-written and well-formatted, likewise every bit free of grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. Clarity, consistency, and conciseness are fundamental. In the absence of a formatting template, bones formatting should be in place, e.g., uniform font, adequate line spacing, and appropriate margins. Under Editage's Scientific Editing Service , a researcher can have a concept paper assessed by a subject affair adept for an in-depth critique on the content and further checked and corrected past editors for language and readability.

Are you lot brimming with ideas for a inquiry projection? At present that you lot know the principal elements that might requite your proposal an border over others, maybe you are ready to set a projection in motility past starting with a concept newspaper.

Related reading:

5 Practical tips for writing your beginning scientific newspaper [Download publication schedule planner]
The basics of writing a statement of the problem for your research proposal
What reviewers await for in a grant proposal