SI Network Grant Application - Sensory Integration

1 SI Network Small Project Grant Award Guidance notes for completing Application Sensory Integration Network UK & Ireland - Research 2 Please read this guidance thoroughly before completing an Application . Introduction The purpose of SI Network Research Grant Awards is to support the development of early career SI researchers by providing financial, recruitment and dissemination support. The aim is to build the skills of those researching SI in order to contribute to the national and international evidence base for SI. The SI Network research grants are to support development of the evidence relating to Sensory Integration across the Lifespan: The Art and Science.

2 All Grant applications must demonstrate contribution to one or more of the following themes: Evidence from within the field of Neuroscience Assessment and Measures of SI and Sensory Processing Difficulties Evidence for the treatment of Sensory Processing Difficulties: -Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy - Sensory Strategies. The SI Network will support quality research projects that will provide robust evidence with clear relevance to service users, carers, and/or the organisation and delivery of effective services. Where appropriate, practitioners and service users should be involved and close collaborative working between academic and service provider organisations is also encouraged.

3 The grants will be available as per calendar year, from January 1st. When the financial envelope for each Grant has been allocated applications will close. However, Grant awards may be re-launched prior to the end of the financial year if all research funds have not been allocated. Small Projects/Studies: Up to 7000 These grants support small pilot studies and/or single case study experimental design or qualitative studies reflecting the key research strands of the SI Network with a clinical focus. Grants may be awarded to clinicians and health practitioners as well as new researchers. Applicants/ Application groups will need to demonstrate appropriate expertise in Sensory Integration Theory and Practice aligned to study needs.

4 Grant Awards available Aims and Scope Sensory Integration Network UK & Ireland - Research 3 This part of the document provides guidance, section by section, on how to complete the online Application form. Please ensure you complete the Application form that corresponds with the Grant you are applying for. Word limits Please note that some questions on the Application form have specified word limits. Answers that clearly exceed these word limits will not be considered. Title of proposed research Please give the title of the proposed research project. Applicant details Please give the name, current job title, professional/research and SI qualifications/experience (you may attach a CV although SI experience should be summarised here), SI Network membership number, address and other contact details.

5 The majority of contact between SI Network and the Applicant will be via email, so please ensure that you provide a current and regularly accessed email address. Co-applicant(s) details (If applicable) Please give the name, current job title, address and other contact details of all Co-applicants who will be involved in the project, as well as their supporting institution/employer. Please specify the Co-applicants contribution to the project. Co-applicants need not be based within the same institution as the Applicant. In exceptional circumstances, Co-applicants may be based outside of the UK and Ireland but their involvement must be fully justified.

6 If there is more than one Co-applicant, please copy and paste the headings in the outline Application form as many times as appropriate Sponsor details For Small Project Grants provide the name and address of institution/ organisation supporting the study. Cost Please enter the total cost to SI Network of the Grant for which you are applying. Please supply an estimated breakdown of the cost, referring to the Terms and Conditions for allowable and inadmissible expenses. SI Network would not expect to see a significant variation in cost between the estimated and the actual expenses. Timeline of the project Please enter the approximate start and end dates for the project.

7 Please note that any time needed for ethical approval and recruitment of personnel must be built into the duration of the project. Completing Application Form Sensory Integration Network UK & Ireland - Research 4 Other applications for funding You should inform SI Network of any related applications for funding which, if successful, would affect the deliverability of your project. Please give details in the table provided. Stipulate which SI research strand your study relates to Please indicate which of the priority areas listed on the form are addressed by the project. Please describe how this project addresses the identified priority area. Lay summary (word limit: 200) This should summarise the main aspects of your intended project in non-technical language, stating: the research question(s) you wish to answer, the overall aim, a brief rationale, methods of data collection and analysis, and what you expect the research outcome of your project to be.

8 Write the lay summary as if you were describing your research to an intelligent person who does not know anything about your subject area. Try to avoid references and jargon. Expected value of the findings Please explain the need for, and likely impact of, your project by describing: the importance of the issue you are addressing the potential benefits for service users, carers and/or social care service providers the potential impact on future research the support and buy-in you have secured from practitioners and/or service provider organisations. Please also indicate when you expect the potential benefits to be realised. Conference Attendance If included in the cost of the project, please state the conference title, the date/s of conference, and the type of presentation (Paper/Poster/Workshop/Seminar).

9 Please give your justification/rationale for applying for Grant to attend the conference. Background to the project (literature review) (word limit: 500) You should outline the background to the problem to be investigated. Make a case for your research question, identifying an area of concern, describing the topics/issue/phenomena under study, identifying relevant literature. This should set the scene and evidence your reading around the subject. You should discuss the work carried out to date and therefore establish a gap in knowledge; you should then lead into the aims/objectives of the research, and hypotheses where appropriate. These should be clear, logical and realistic.

10 Research Question, including aims of study You should stipulate the principal question or hypothesis being addressed by the piece of research. When a hypothesis is being tested, enter the hypothesis. If possible, this should be a single sentence, and should accurately reflect the aims and objectives of your study. Sensory Integration Network UK & Ireland - Research 5 Study design and methodology (word limit: 500) In this section you should include a description of the methodology to be used, You should include details of the participants numbers, from where they are to be recruited, the sample size, the data analysis process you will be using statistical packages, qualitative analysis.