Scientific uses of aim, objective and hypothesis

[S.A.M.]

While writing a grant proposal, we are asked to specify our hypothesis, aim and objectives of the study.

What are the definitions of these terms in the scientific context and how would you differentiate between them?

[(Q)]

I personally wouldn't attempt to define that which is already well defined.

[Fraggle Rocker]

While writing a grant proposal, we are asked to specify our hypothesis, aim and objectives of the study. What are the definitions of these terms in the scientific context and how would you differentiate between them?I'm a technical writer on government contracts. Believe me, the last thing you need in order to write a successful proposal (or any contract document) is the standard, universal definitions of terms as they are used outside the halls of government. You need to do some non-science research and find out how they are defined on the inside.

I'm in IT so I'm not a career scientist, I'm not familiar with the terminology of your field either inside or outside, and I've never worked with grants. But as an example, I've done IT risk analysis and the way the word "impact" (of a risk) is used in my current software project is just wrong. They use it to mean what is properly referred to as "severity." But we have to work with it.

The "context" you're looking for is not science, but government. Specifically the agency you want to work with.

Most government documents in the USA are "public record." That does not mean that they are published in a library that you can scroll up from a website, it just means that you have a right to read them if you can find them. Check around with your network of contacts and see if you can find some old successful proposals to use as a model. We all do that when writing proposals against RFPs. You will never get a proposal accepted if you haven't copied the language from one that worked. The first level of people who read them are looking only for form, not content. You have to get it past them before anyone will read it who is qualified to judge its true merits.

[S.A.M.]

Grants are read and reviewed by other scientists. So we have to use scientific definitions. I thought it would be a good idea to discuss terminology.

[Fraggle Rocker]

Grants are read and reviewed by other scientists. So we have to use scientific definitions. I thought it would be a good idea to discuss terminology.Okay. But still, they're scientists who are veterans of the grant milieu, and those are the people whose expertise you need.

[S.A.M.]

What do you mean by veterans? Anyone who is willing to read 15 grants at a time, go to Washington and spend 5 straight days deciding who gets how much, can invite themselves. I don't think they get paid for it and its a HUGE amount of work.