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Writing a Lay Summary
Whether it’s referred to as an abstract or a summary, this relatively short document can make a critical difference in how your proposal is reviewed and evaluated.
What is a summary?
A summary is a brief (several paragraphs to one page) snapshot of your research proposal. Typical summaries might discuss the purpose of your research, its background significance, and the proposed methodology.
What’s the purpose of a summary?
Summaries are designed to describe for readers (grant reviewers) the “big picture” and help them more easily understand the details of your research. In some cases, the summary is the only part of your proposal that some reviewers read; thus, it is your only chance to make a good impression.
Summary Variations
The content and language in a summary should vary based upon its intended end user. One size won’t fit all.
- Summaries for Shared Area of Expertise (Major Sponsors: NSF, NIH,
etc)
Due to the volume of submissions, reviewers can seldom read each proposal. Instead, proposals are assigned a primary and secondary reviewer who read it and make recommendations to the panel. Although 12 people might score your proposal, only 2 have read it completely. Most of the panel relies on the primary and secondary reviewers’ comments and your summary. Thus, it’s critical your summary be well written, compelling, and demonstrate the significance of the research. It should answer basic questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how. As good practice, you should have a peer review your summary as well as your entire proposal.
- Summaries for Scientists Outside Your Field
(Limited Competitions, CRB,
etc.)
Reviews for these types of competitions are conducted similar to national sponsors. However, it’s likely that few, if any, of the panel will share your exact area of expertise. In these cases, your summary should be slightly more generalized and define research specific terms unique to your discipline. Most of the panel, including the primary and secondary reviewer, will rely on your summary to serve as a road map for what’s ahead in your narrative. In addition to having a peer review your summary and proposal, you should have a scientist from another discipline review it.
- Summaries for a Non-scientific
Audience–(IRB, etc.)
Sometimes you have to write summaries for a lay audience. “Lay” in this case means “Not of a particular profession; the public; lacking extensive knowledge of a particular subject”. In other words, people who don’t do research for a living—siblings, parents, plumbers, accountants, retail clerks, bus drivers, school teachers, politicians, etc. Your summary must be generalized so they can understand it. It must avoid unnecessary jargon and acronyms known only in the scientific community or clearly define terms that are used.
Lay summaries must be simple and direct while giving the reader a reason to care. Explain why the research is significant to the general public and always have a non-scientist friend review it.
Need additional help?
RDS is available to review your research summary as well as your entire proposal. Contact us.
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