Sex, Gender, and Diversity Analysis in Research Policies of Major Public Granting Agencies: A Global Review

National research agencies are funded by taxpayer monies and, as such, are responsible for promoting excellent research that benefits all of society. Integrating sex, gender and diversity analysis (SG&DA) into the design of research, where relevant, can improve research methodology and provide new insights. To realize this potential, funding agencies have developed policies for integrating this type of analysis into the grant proposal process. This study reviews those policies for 23 agencies across six continents. Overall, one agency achieved superior performance, six agencies scored excellent performance, five showed average performance, two need some improvement and nine require improvement. Our study developed a five-part SG&DA policy roadmap for agencies and collected best practices across that guide. Standard practices, tailored as appropriate to country-specific cultures and regulatory landscapes, will enhance collaboration potential, global equity, research excellence and reproducibility.

Reverse Research Design: Research Design in the Undergraduate Classroom

ABSTRACT Teaching research design is a core component of a political science curriculum. In our pedagogy, we often do two things separately: expecting students to (1) read and digest the work of established scholars, and (2) explore their own interests in the form of a research design or research paper. In a reverse research design, I bridge these two components with a pedagogical tool. I use a published book or article relevant to the course and students retrace the published author’s process, placing themselves in the author’s shoes. Rewinding some years, students imagine that they are this author writing a grant proposal to conduct the (now-completed) study. This helps students to work through the steps of research design, putting aside until later the more intimidating hurdle of articulating their own research question and project. This article explains reverse research design and describes the teaching resources and methods for implementation.

The mutual benefits of patient and public involvement in research: an example from a feasibility study (MoTaStim-Foot)

Background Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research has increased steadily over the last two decades and is now both expected and appropriately resourced by many funding bodies, including the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). However, PPI in research occurs in many different capacities and numerous frameworks exist for reporting or appraising patient involvement activities. The aim of this article is to describe processes involving PPI contributions to an NIHR-funded mixed-methods feasibility study (MoTaStim-Foot). Details of PPI advisors’ input, from initial identification and prioritisation of research ideas, to research delivery and dissemination, are discussed. Methods Extensive PPI for MoTaStim-Foot is reported, with consideration of Research Design Service (RDS) advice for PPI for research, involving identifying and prioritising: design; grant proposal development; undertaking/managing research; analysing and interpreting; dissemination; implementation; monitoring and evaluation. Two PPI workshops were undertaken; success in meeting UK standards for public involvement was audited against specific success criteria by two researchers, with discussion and consideration regarding how well our PPI achieved inclusive opportunities, working together, support and learning, governance, communications and impact. How PPI can be improved for future trials was also considered. Although the advantages of PPI for researchers were considered, the benefits for PPI advisors were also analysed. Results UK standards for public involvement were achieved, along with seven relevant research processes suggested by the RDS. PPI advisor contributions: informed study design; contributed to successful funding; enhanced trial delivery by informing participant information sheets and daily diaries; added value through undertaking note-taker roles in focus groups and helping to analyse focus group transcripts; and assisted in dissemination. However, benefits were mutual with PPI advisors reporting feeling valued and respected, a sense of pride with renewed confidence and purpose in life. Conclusions Importance and value of PPI, to researchers and patient advisors, have been highlighted, reinforcing the benefits of working in partnership with PPI advisors. Trial registration ISRCTN 13676183; Central Portfolio Management System ID 30449. Registered 02/01/2015, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN13676183.

Data Management Plan for Enhancing the Humanities

Data Management Plan for 2021 NEH Digital Humanities Advancement Grant Proposal

Expandable Substrate Module and Storage Network Compatible w/ BitBadges

(THIS IS THE MIRROR OF A GRANT PROPOSAL). We are working on creating a storage network module on substrate compatible w/ the BitBadges blockchain. This will allow for substrate to interact in a meaningful way with the BitBadges ecosystem, which follows an experimental PoCP or Proof of Computation proof.Other projects like Crust or Subspace are within the same realm of trying to create some form of storage network. The difference is how BitBadges goes about accomplishing this and what a substrate module as an integration will provide. BitBadges as a whole is working on offline-centric networks and integrating variations of distributing sharding algorithms. Their data is transmitted w/ CouchDB being an integral part of its core for node syncronization. BitBadges is also integrating w/ various third party networks viewed as either pegs or applications.We believe that the substrate ecosystem can provide another integration w/ our network and we might even be able to create something similar to what Crust is doing on their mainnet, but w/ BitBadges as the storage method or a mirrored peg for the data. Our team, which is currently just two people, are passionate and have years of blockchain development experience under our belts. We think Substrate can work great as one of our third party integrations or pegged chains.

The enhanced mentoring program for skilled Korean immigrants: an effective tool for successful integration into the Canadian labour market? (A Grant Proposal)

Koreans have immigrated to Canada in the last twenty years seeking a better quality of life. The vast majority of recent Korean immigrants have been accepted under the economic class category, which indicates that they have either human capital or financial capital. However, most Korean immigrants experience downward mobility and reside in an ethnic bubble. Furthermore, mainly low confidence in English communication and cultural differences have impeded the participation in multicultural settlement services. Even some of the existing employment programs offered by settlement service providers are not approachable due to the limitation of eligibility. This practical MRP attempts to find a pragmatic solution to address the skill under-utilization issues experienced by skilled Korean immigrants. A specialized mentoring program is examined as a support for skilled Korean immigrants. The program aims to give them access to the Canadian labour market by integrating multiple facets of settlement and employment services. Key words: Skilled Korean Immigrants; Mentoring Services for Skilled Immigrants; Internet Based Employment Services; Labour Market Integration; Grant Proposal

The enhanced mentoring program for skilled Korean immigrants: an effective tool for successful integration into the Canadian labour market? (A Grant Proposal)

Koreans have immigrated to Canada in the last twenty years seeking a better quality of life. The vast majority of recent Korean immigrants have been accepted under the economic class category, which indicates that they have either human capital or financial capital. However, most Korean immigrants experience downward mobility and reside in an ethnic bubble. Furthermore, mainly low confidence in English communication and cultural differences have impeded the participation in multicultural settlement services. Even some of the existing employment programs offered by settlement service providers are not approachable due to the limitation of eligibility. This practical MRP attempts to find a pragmatic solution to address the skill under-utilization issues experienced by skilled Korean immigrants. A specialized mentoring program is examined as a support for skilled Korean immigrants. The program aims to give them access to the Canadian labour market by integrating multiple facets of settlement and employment services. Key words: Skilled Korean Immigrants; Mentoring Services for Skilled Immigrants; Internet Based Employment Services; Labour Market Integration; Grant Proposal