"TIRF encourages TESOL researchers to do good work and to make a difference in the world as the findings from their research inform and enrich the learning and teaching of English around the world."

Diane Larsen-Freeman,
TIRF Supporter

The International Research
Foundation
for English Language Education

Research > Apply for Grants and Fellowships > TIRF Doctoral Dissertation Grants

TIRF Doctoral Dissertation Grants

Deadline: April 30, 2008

To download a copy of the following information in pdf format, please click here.

About TIRF

The International Research Foundation for English Language Education (TIRF) was founded in 1999 as the TESOL International Research Foundation (TIRF), an international, non-profit organization. Its aim is to generate new knowledge and to collect and organize existing knowledge about the teaching and learning of English for the purposes of informing educational policy; improving classroom practices; and, ultimately, expanding educational, occupational, and social opportunities for individuals in a global society. TIRF is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of scholars, authors, and corporate sector volunteers and is supported by charitable donations. TIRF is committed to developing and implementing an innovative, proactive applied research program, the ultimate purpose of which is to help ensure that English as a second or foreign language is taught, learned, and tested in a manner that is demonstrably effective, expedient, and economical. TIRF is committed to strengthening links between theory, practice, and policy, and to fostering partnerships among researchers around the world. TIRF funds two kinds of grant proposals. These are Priority Research Grants and Doctoral Dissertation Grants. TIRF welcomes Doctoral Dissertation Grant (DDG) proposals for 2008. The DDG funding is intended to support worthy applicants who have advanced to candidacy in their doctoral programs and whose dissertation research plans address topics that TIRF has prioritized. For Doctoral Dissertation Research Grants, US $5,000 is the maximum award.

Notification of Results and Disbursement of Funds

Notification of results for DDG Awards will be made by October 15, 2008. The project summaries of successful proposals and photographs of grant recipients will be posted on the TIRF Web site by the end of October, 2008. Researchers whose projects have been funded by TIRF must provide brief (one-page) progress reports to the TIRF Board of Trustees at six-month intervals, until the project has been completed, following the reporting requirements for all TIRF grants.

Researcher Accountability

For DDG recipients, progress reports are expected at approximately six-month intervals: by March 1, 2009, August 31, 2009; and March 1, 2010. Funding will be paid out in two equal installments. Once researchers accept a TIRF grant, they will receive half of the award. At that time, they will also indicate what they expect to accomplish by the time their first interim report is submitted. Then, in that first progress report, they must note which of their research "milestones" they have reached. At that point, the second (and final) funding installment will be sent. At project completion, researchers must submit a narrative final report (2 pages, single-spaced, with an appendix) summarizing their research findings for a general audience, with implications for practitioners and policy-makers as well. References should also be included. TIRF reserves the right to use information from project proposal summaries and final reports for dissemination on its Web site and in other media. Copies of dissertations and other publications should be sent to the TIRF business office. In addition, all publications and conference presentations resulting from a TIRF grant must acknowledge the support of this Foundation.

TIRF Doctoral Dissertation Grant Topics

For Doctoral Dissertation Grant (DDG) proposals only, applicants may choose from among the following research priority topics listed on the TIRF website (http://www.tirfonline.org). Click on the title of each research priority for more information.

• Students' Age and Effective English Language Education in Schools
• Teachers' English Proficiency and Effective English Language Education
• Optimal Uses of Technology in the Delivery of English Language Instruction
• Effective Grammar Instruction for English Language Learners in Primary and Secondary Education Contexts

TIRF Doctoral Dissertation Grant Features

• Doctoral Dissertation Grants of up to US $5,000 per proposal are available. Smaller sums may be awarded.
• Allocations of funds are made subject to budgetary availability. However, it is likely that we will fund three Doctoral Dissertation Grants in 2008-09.
• Preference is given to projects that can be completed in one year.
• Preference is given to projects that have clear implications for policy-makers and others in positions to make decisions involving English language education practices.
• Research involving multiple research methods (e.g., qualitative and quantitative approaches) is encouraged.
• If English proficiency testing is planned (for either students or teachers), we strongly recommend the use of appropriate international, standardized English language tests whose results can be easily interpreted by researchers in other contexts; if other tests are to be used or developed, please include the rationale for the selection or development of these particular instruments.
• Research that involves the synthesis of existing data sets and research findings will also be considered.
• TIRF will fund conference travel only to a total of US $2,000 per DDG. We strongly encourage grantees to disseminate their findings via electronic media and standard means of academic and professional publication as well as by attending conferences. Finally, personal expenses such as the cost of storage, moving, insurance, and rent are not permissible budget items.
• Additional sources of funding applied for or received for the same research project or a larger project should be declared. Seeking or obtaining other sources of funding for the project does not prevent you from applying for a TIRF grant; however, it is important that you state the unique contribution a TIRF grant will make to your project.
• In addition to submitting progress reports to TIRF every six months, grantees must submit a 2-page narrative final report for the project written for a general audience as well as a final financial report documenting how the funding was used by August 31, 2009. Written evidence of the hiring of any research assistants and consultants must be submitted with the final report, in the form of names, addresses, email addresses, amounts paid, period of employment, and tasks done. This information is important for TIRF fiscal accountability.

NOTE: TIRF reserves the right to fund less than the budgeted amount in proposals, based on TIRF's fiscal constraints and feedback from reviewers about the appropriateness of budgets.

Characteristics of Successful TIRF Doctoral Dissertation Grant Proposals in Previous Years

In the past the strongest DDG proposals have been submitted by an applicant who

• has clearly advanced to Ph.D. candidacy in accordance with the requirements of their institution (this criterion is absolutely necessary and must be attested by the doctoral supervisor);
• has written a proposal directly and clearly related to a Priority topic identified by TIRF;
• has written a literature review that demonstrates familiarity with other recent research on the topic and related issues as well as gaps in that research;
• has provided a detailed account of research methods;
• has included a supporting letter from a supervisor; and otherwise shows great scholarly and professional promise, as judged from the short CV.

The most common reasons for not funding DDG proposals are that the students are not yet far enough along in their doctoral studies--or are not even doctoral students--or the proposals are off topic. Another common weakness is that the proposal has not been carefully proofread or the guidelines have not been followed carefully. We recommend that students have their research supervisors read their proposals before they are submitted to TIRF.

DDG Application Procedures

• The deadline for receipt of complete proposals is April 30, 2008 (11:59 p.m., Mountain Daylight Time - Canada/USA).
• All applications must be submitted electronically by email using a Word document as an attachment. All parts of the completed application must be sent in one email that includes all attachments. Please send completed applications to the TIRF Research Advisory Committee at u0067397@utah.edu. Faxed or mailed applications will not be accepted.
• When submitting a Doctoral Dissertation Grant proposal, please indicate "TIRF DDG Application" in the Subject heading. This format will permit us to review applications in a timely way.
• Please do not submit your application more than once. If you submit multiple copies of your proposal, only the first one received will be processed.
• Acknowledgement of the receipt of applications will be sent to the email address from which the application was sent unless otherwise noted on the cover sheet.
• Finally, if you have any difficulties submitting your proposal electronically or if you have not had your application acknowledged within 48 hours of sending it, please contact MaryAnn Christison at mac@linguistics.utah.edu using the Subject heading "TIRF Inquiry." Late submissions will not be accepted.

Applications must comply with the required proposal format (see below). Applications that do not follow these specifications or are incomplete will be rejected. Please do not exceed the page lengths indicated for each section of the proposal.

DDG Grant Adjudication

Research proposals will be adjudicated by the TIRF Research Advisory Committee (RAC), composed of at least three currently appointed Board members. In addition to the RAC's internal review of proposals, the RAC may elect to send proposals to up to four external reviewers with relevant academic expertise for their assessment. The TIRF Research Advisory Committee retains final authority over all decisions concerning recommendations for funding made to the TIRF Board of Trustees. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants about the reasons for which they were not funded. Unfortunately, because of the limited funds available, not all applications worthy of funding will be approved for funding; in 2008, we anticipate funding at least one DDG, based on the merit of proposals and other fiscal considerations.