The sequence may vary in which funding agencies require information. But the logic of the overall argument that you need to develop through your focus and linkage is the same. 

Focus	Element of logic
Warranting the conclusion
What the topic is	Title, aim, objectives
Why it is important and timely	Central question or issue
How you will investigate it	Theoretical framework, research questions, research methods
The conclusion
What you expect to find out	Anticipated outputs
How you will ensure the new knowledge is useful	Impact on academic and non-academic beneficiaries

A blank logic checksheet is set out below. You could mark each cell in the righthand column that you will need to have addressed in developing your research proposal for your funding agency. Then, as you think through the proposal, enter in the relevant information in each of these cells. As you proceed, the logic checksheet will function as:

·        a pointer to each element of the logic of your overall argument that you need to decide upon and incorporate in your proposal

·        a reminder of where you have got to in working through the logic of your overall argument

·        a brief summary of the core content of your proposal

As you work on your proposal, you may find that you need to alter elements of the logic of your overall argument (e.g. you may have started with an objective for data collection which is too ambitious for the resources you are allowed to bid for). If so, you can easily modify what is written in the relevant cell, and check whether it has implications for other elements.

   

Focus	Element of logic	Content in this proposal
WARRANTING THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR ARGUMENT
What topic you’re going to investigate	Project Title ·        keywords summarising the topic
	Broad aim ·        contribution to finding out about the topic in general terms
	Objectives: ·        collection of data
	Objectives: ·        contribution to knowledge, policy, practice for specified beneficiaries
	Objectives: ·        development of theory, methodology or methods
Why the topic is important and timely	Major central question or issue about the topic to be addressed ·        evidence for its importance and timeliness
How you’ll investigate the topic	Theoretical framework for addressing the central question or issue
	Research questions: ·        related directly to objectives within the broad aim ·        contributing to addressing the wider central question or issue of concern to the specified beneficiaries
	Research Methods: ·        specific means of data collection to answer each of the research questions
	Methods of analysis: ·        specific means of analysing data to determine the answer to each of the research questions
THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR ARGUMENT
What your investig-ation promises to find out about the topic	Anticipated outputs: ·        projected body of data that will answer research questions and achieve the objectives ·        how the data will be reported
How you will ensure that what you find out about the topic is useful	Impact: ·        what value the outputs will have for the specified academic and non-academic beneficiaries in helping them address the central question or issue of concern ·        how engagement and dissemination activities will maximise impact on these beneficiaries

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