What is a Concept Paper?

• It is an academic paper briefly written to provide a clear summary of the research project.
• a brief paper outlining the key aspects of a study before undertaking the study
• It is meant to provide an idea of the study
PURPOSES OF A CONCEPT PAPER
• Serves as a foundation of the full proposal
• Help determine whether a certain project is feasible or not
• Use to pique the interest of the potential founding agencies
• Used to obtain informal feedback on the ideas prior to preparing the full proposal
MAJOR PAPERS OF A CONCEPT PAPER FORMAT
• 1. A title page
• 2. Introduction and statement of the problem
• 3. Value of the study
• 4. A preliminary literature reviews
• 5. State the research goals or objectives
• 6. Write down all the research questions
• 7. The research hypothesis. ...
• 8. State the methodology you intend to use.
Title
The title should be as brief as possible and to the point such that by a glance one would know exactly the
paper’s intention.
Example: “Leveraging on Mobile Payment Methods to gain Competitive Advantage by local based businesses”
Introduction
• The first paragraph of a written research paper, or the first thing you say in an oral presentation, or the first
thing people see, hear, or experience about your project.
• The introduction gives the reader the beginning of the piece of thread so they can follow it.
Abridged Methodology
• provides the student’s best idea on how to conduct the research and analyze the data.
• the methodology is simplified or summarized, serving as a general outline of the methods that will be employed
• Interview
• Survey
• Questionnaires
Preliminary Literature Review
• provides identification of major literature that supports and validates the topic
• The literature review focuses on areas that offer support for new research and offers the student an opportunity
to analyze and synthesize past research in the context of their present problem.
Goal Statement
• provides a broad or abstract intention, including the research goals and objectives.
• This part of the Concept Paper tells the reader “who, what, and when” regarding the research goal.
Research Questions
• provides a preliminary view of the questions the student will investigate.
• The questions will direct everything that will be done; therefore, it is important that they are focused to the
main research problem.
Timeline
• provides a range of time for completion of the project, highlighting key elements for each stage of the project.
References
• provides references to the material cited in the literature review and elsewhere in the Concept Paper

When you want to write a concept paper for a project proposal, you must follow the specifications given by
the funder, or if there is none, the following parts should be present:
• Introduction. Introduce your idea and identify the program or opportunity you think is a good fit. Demonstrate that
you understand the mission of the funding agency and the types of projects that they support. Identify how your project
meets the goals of the funder. Identify any other funders that will be involved and their interest in the project where
appropriate. Introduce the question, problem, or need to be addressed.
• Purpose/Need. Briefly provide supporting documentation for the importance of addressing this question, problem, or
need. If you have statistical data, use it. Cite significant and compelling sources. Why does this project matter? Make
sure you cite or refer to what others have accomplished relative to your project.
• Project Description. Concisely describe what you plan to do, your approach, who benefits, and potential impacts.
• Goals/Objectives/Aims/Research Questions. Outline your goals, objectives/aims, and research questions. Goals are
simply a clearer vision statement, specifying the accomplishments to be achieved if the vision is to become real. The
target objectives/aims are clearer statements of the specific activities required to achieve the goals. A goal is a
statement describing a broad or abstract intent, state, or condition. An objective is a statement of action or intent to
achieve measurable outcomes that relate to the goal.
• Methods and Timeline. Briefly describe how the project is carried out, providing sufficient detail to allow the reader to
assess the feasibility and likely impact but not so much detail that the reader is overwhelmed. Make sure the methods
and timeline are explicitly related to the goals and objectives.
• Expected Outcomes/Benefits (and often Evaluation)
• Budget/Needs & Requested Support
• Contact Information

A concept paper should follow any technical specifications provided by the funder.
If no specifications are provided, you may use the following:
Match the formatting of the funder's full proposal specifications OR
– 1" margins
– single--spaced
– 11 pt Arial
– 0.25" left indented, fully justified paragraphs
— Bold headings where appropriate

3 ways of explaining a concept

2. In an informal definition, the writer uses known words or examples to explain an unknown term. These definitions
may
be synonyms or antonyms introduced by or, in other words, or like.
Informal definition example:
Freedom, also referred to as liberty or independence, is a state people reach when they are free to think and do whatever
they please.

3. "An extended definition may explain the word's etymology or historical roots, describe sensory characteristics of
something (how it looks, feels, sounds, tastes, smells)
It goes beyond what can be found from the dictionary, offering an expanded analysis and illustrations of a concept that
might be abstract, controversial, or unfamiliar.
• Explaining abstract concepts
• Analogy, metaphors

B. EXPLICATION
Explication is a method of explanation in which sentences, verses, quotes or passages are taken away from a literary or
academic work and then interpreted and explained in detailed way.

C. CLARIFICATION
Clarification points are organized from general abstract idea to specific and concrete examples
Signal Words (Clarification)
• After all
• For instance
• Namely
• That is
• As an
• In other words
• Put another way
• To be specific
• Consider the following
• In particular
• Specifically
• In short
• For example
• stated differently