Request for Proposals from Graduate Students
Procedures for Political Science Graduate Student Proposals
TOP welcomes proposals from Political Science graduate students who would like to include an experimental module on an omnibus study conducted during the academic year.
Proposals must include a thorough description of the study design and an appendix with actual questions and stimuli.
The description of the study design must include the following sections:
- The rationale for the project and its contribution to the literature
- The research question and specific hypotheses to be tested
- A description of the experimental stimulus
- A description of the analytical strategy (Method of data analysis; dependent variable; independent variable(s); specific links between hypotheses and analysis to be conducted)
Proposals are limited to two pages of text (single spaced and 12 point font) plus references. The actual study questions and stimuli must be appended as an appendix to the proposal.
Please note that number of survey items is typically limited to what can be administered in 5 minutes. Longer modules are subject to stricter scrutiny than shorter modules.
In order to be considered, proposals must be submitted at least one month before the start of classes of the proposed quarter during which the study would run. For example, if a student would like to place content on an omnibus study in the Winter quarter and classes that quarter begin January 4, the proposal must be submitted no later than December 4.
Please submit proposals electronically to Cindy Kam (cdkam [at] ucdavis [dot] edu) and Liz Zechmeister (ejzech [at] ucdavis [dot] edu). They will be reviewed by a committee of TOP-associated faculty members.
If the proposal is accepted, the student is expected to attend all organizational meetings pertaining to the omnibus study on which the student is placing content. The student is also responsible for ensuring that the study has IRB approval prior to its implementation. The student is also expected to program the proposed survey items. Finally, participating students are required to assist in the implementation of the omnibus study.