Supporting your proposal with research is a good way to ensure an effective program and a competitive proposal. You can incorporate research into your background information and description of the current situation. You might also find similar programs or studies that show that such efforts have been effective in the past. Demographics for the community with which you are working help to clarify the community need and the people who would be served by the project. Write a post that answers the following questions:

What is your main research question? What are some secondary questions you need to explore through research? (Tip: Focus on the community need.)
What information do you need to know about the broad topic of your research? Think big–does this community need exist on a national or global level?
What information do you need to know about the local community? Think very specifically about the area you are serving.
What SPECIFIC sources will be useful to find the information you need? (don’t just say “websites” or “the library”–Which websites, databases, or journals are likely to have the information you need?)

To prepare for this activity, review the document titled Research Methods and explore the Library Research Guide for our course.

Document: “Research Methods”