2012 New Investigators Research Grant: Evaluation Criteria

A review panel will perform an evaluation of applications based on the following five criteria:

1. The Significance of the research substantiates the potential for the project to advance the field of communication sciences and disorders and to impact clinical needs relevant to speech-language pathology or audiology.
   
   
2. The Approach reveals the merits of the design for accomplishing the specific aims of the project. The appropriateness and feasibility of a detailed account of the method, including measurement and data analysis plans, will be considered.
   
   
3. The perceived ability of the Investigator to carry out the project in the specified time period is reflected by appropriate training, experience, and past accomplishments. The Investigator outlines clear and detailed management and budget plans for carrying out the project.
   
   
4. The scientific Environment describes the extent to which the facilities, resources, personnel, and subjects needed to carry out the activities described in the proposal are available to the applicant.
   
   
5. Innovation of the project is reflected by refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, methods, or interventions.

Reviewers will assign scores on a 1–9 scale for each criterion. In addition, reviewers will assign an Overall Impact score based on all five criteria. The Overall Impact score tends to reflect reviewers' assessment of whether a significant project will be completed competently, be disseminated widely, will move the field forward, and will yield a substantial research program.

The five criteria contribute differentially to the Overall Impact score to correspond to the goals and funding level of the grant competition. A tightly designed, feasible project is most appropriate for the New Investigator grant competition. For new investigators, for example, the Approach criterion would be more heavily weighted and the Innovation criterion would be less heavily weighted. The promise of the Investigator will be highly prioritized, but will be evaluated in comparison to other new researchers in the field and based on the applicant's ability to clearly describe the activities and timeline necessary to complete the project in one year.