Grants-in-Aid Selection

Grants-in-Aid (GIA) support scientific research in social problem areas related to the basic interests and goals of SPSSI and particularly those that are not likely to receive support from traditional sources. We especially encourages proposals (a) involving unique and timely research opportunities, (b) from underrepresented institutions, graduate students, and junior scholars, (c) using volunteer research teams, and (d) detailing actual, not pilot, projects. Funds are not normally provided for conventions or conference attendance, travel or living expenses while conducting research, stipends of principal investigators, costs associated with manuscript preparation, or the indirect costs to institutions. Application deadlines for two rounds of grants per year typically fall around October 1 and May 1.

This committee is typically composed of three or more members, ideally serving three-year terms. The charge to the committee is as follows:

The committee is to review requests for research funds initiated by any of the various agencies created by SPSSI including other committees, work groups, the Council itself, and others, and to allocate funds for research to be conducted by or under the direction of the grantee agency, being guided in their judgment by the optimal use of the limited funds and by the special obligation of SPSSI to adhere to high scientific standards in its own work. This program has funds (up to $2,000 per grant) available for scientific research in social problem areas related to the basic interests and goals of SPSSI and particularly those that are not likely to receive support from traditional sources. Funding up to $1,000 is available for graduate student research if proposals are accompanied by evidence of a request for appropriate university official agreement to match the amount requested. The selection Committee has the option to consider in-kind support in lieu of matching funds where such matches are not available. Awards are granted twice a year.

The committee is to review applications from individuals and groups other than those acting for SPSSI agencies and to make grants in support of research. To be considered, research must be in a social problem area related to the basic interests and goals of SPSSI. The projects funded are usually ones that require immediate commitment of funds to take advantage of transient research opportunities; projects that require smaller amounts of money than are typically awarded by major granting agencies; or studies in areas that are not likely to receive support from traditional sources because of the nature of the topic, the methods, or the context in which the research is being done. Funds are normally not provided for dissertation research, purely descriptive surveys, travel, stipends for principal investigators, and costs associated with manuscript preparation.

The GIA program and procedures for applying shall be announced through distribution of a flyer (once a year), preferably in the July or November SPSSI Newsletter and on the SPSSI website. All applications, including those from SPSSI agencies, should provide a description of the work to be done, a justification for the work, a budget statement, an explanation of the relevant facts as to personnel and surveillance of the work, and an abstract of the proposed research. The abstract will be for the information of Council and for publication in the SPSSI Newsletter.

The Committee is to report to the Council and to the SPSSI membership not only the awarding of grants and the progress, but also the completion of research undertaken with SPSSI grants. The grant recipients are to be made aware of their obligation to report periodically and terminally to the GIA Committee.

Timely proposals which would require commitment of modest funds in order to explore transient events and situations otherwise lost as subjects of research can be funded immediately. 

Application details can be found here.