Developing a research culture is essential to advancing the Communication discipline, as well as enhancing departmental credibility both on and off campus. This section provides chairs with information on creating a departmental research culture, finding funding, and writing proposals. Links to major funding agencies are also provided.
The November 2002 issue of the Journal of Applied Communication Research features a special forum on funded research. Authors provide guidance on writing grant applications and discuss private and public research finding, interdisciplinary collaboration, ways to fund international Communication research, and other topics. The issue is edited by David Buller and Michael Slater. Two articles below may be of particular interest to department chairs:
- Barthell, J.F., Chen, W.R., Endicott, B.K., Hughes, C.A., Radke, W.J., Simmons, C.K., & Wilson, G.M. (2013). Encouraging and sustaining a culture of student-centered research at a predominantly undergraduate institution. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 34, 41-47.
- Goyanes, M. (2018). Against dullness: on what it means to be interesting in communication research. Information, Communication & Society, 1-18.
- Harrington, N. G. (2002). Funded research in communication: A chairperson’s perspective. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 30, 393-401.
- Hecht, M. L., & Parrott, R. (2002). Creating a departmental culture for communication grants. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 30, 382-392.
NCA provides information and resources to help grant seekers. Visit the Help for Grant Seekers section of the website for more information.
A number of helpful resources are available for writing proposals. You may wish to begin with the research office on your own campus. One article in particular provides excellent information:
- Snyder, L., & LePoire, B. A. (2002). Writing your first successful grant application to conduct communication research. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 30, 321-333.
In addition, the Foundation Center offers an online tutorial and webinars to assist in proposal writing:
Also see the booklet produced by the Social Science Research Council: On the Art of Writing Proposals.
Finally, the National Institutes of Health has produced two videos about the grant proposal process. The first, “NIH Peer Review Revealed,” is a simulation of the peer review process used at NIH. This video was created for new applicants and others who want to know how the National Institutes of Health evaluates the 80,000+ grant applications it receives each year.
The second NIH video, “Tips for Applicants,” features reviewers and staff at the National Institutes of Health as they provide insights to scientists seeking to improve their chances of getting an NIH grant. The NIH Center for Scientific Review created this video as a companion to its NIH Peer Review Revealed video, which features real scientists reviewing fictional, but realistic, grant applications. Visit the Center for Scientific Review website for more information.
The best way to learn about funding opportunities is to get on mailing lists and grant update lists. Here are some of the places where you can learn about grants and calls for proposals:
Public Funds
- Foundation Center
- Grants.gov
- National Cancer Institute
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- National Humanities Alliance
- National Institute of Health
- National Science Foundation
Private Foundations