And the winner is…

Congratulations to Haley Warner, M.S., CCC-SLP, of New York University, on her receipt of the NSA Graduate Student Research Award for 2024!

People who stutter (PWS) report that they do not stutter when they are alone, a phenomenon often referred to as the “talk-alone-effect.” People who stutter report that the role of the listener impacts the experience of stuttering, yet there is limited research on the relationship between stuttering and the cognitive processes associated with social interaction. The proposed project seeks to better understand how the perception of the listener impacts stuttering. This study will:

1. Determine if stuttering events occur during the private speech of young children who stutter
2. Establish the relationship between theory of mind and the frequency of stuttering events in young children who stutter

Overall, the proposed project will contribute to our understanding of the impact of social cognitive processes associated with the perception of the listener on stuttering.

We are honored to bestow this award upon Haley for the study, How the perception of the listener impacts stuttering in early childhood.

Traditionally funded by generous NSA donors, this award is made possible this year in memory of Diane Games.  

General Information

This $5000 research funding opportunity seeks to support graduate student research in stuttering that aligns with the NSA Mission. This new award, formerly the called the NSA Research Fund Award, has been offered annually since Summer 2022 through the generous donations of NSA community members. Traditionally funded by generous NSA donors, this award is made possible this year in memory of Diane Games.  

Eligibility

• Proposals must be for graduate-level student research projects on stuttering. Proposals for activities other than research are not eligible (e.g., program evaluations, professional development, curriculum development, scholarships, capital projects). Additionally, proposals for research studies focused on areas other than stuttering, are not eligible.
• Principal Investigators (PIs) applying for funding must show proof of (1) enrollment and (2) good academic standing in their graduate program.
• The PI must be affiliated with a non-profit organization or public/governmental institution that is willing to serve as the administering organization if the grant is awarded. The NSA does not award grants directly to individuals. Examples include non-profit or public colleges, universities, school districts, and research facilities, as well as other non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS.
• The PI’s institution/organization where the proposed research will take place must be in the United States.
• Applicants must be able to provide proof of IRB approval to the NSA Research Committee within 45 days of the award notification.

Restrictions

• Proposed budgets for this program are limited to $5000 total and may not include indirect cost charges.
• Projects proposed may not be longer than 2 years in duration.
• PIs and Co-PIs may only hold one active research grant from the NSA at a time. (This restriction does not apply to the administering organization; organizations may submit as many proposals as they like as long as they are for different projects and have different research teams.)
• This award is not intended to provide the investigator with additional or extended support for an existing study already supported through extramural funds.

Evaluation Criteria

• Significance to the discipline
• Innovation
• Relevance to the NSA Mission
• Approach
• Merit of investigator
• Environment/Feasibility
• Quality of proposal
• Budget justification

Dates

• Opportunity Posting: January 15, 2024
• Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
• Award Notification: Early May 2024

Application Guidelines

Applications should consist of ONE single-spaced PDF document containing all the required sections in the order they are outlined below. No additional attachments will be accepted. Please label application sections according to the section headers included in these guidelines. Font should be 12 point and noncondensed, and margins should be at least 1 inch. Applications that do not meet the formatting guidelines, including stated page limits, will not be reviewed.

Abstract (limit 1 page)
Concisely describe the study’s focus, specific aims, methodology, and long-term objectives. Describe how the aims of the study align with the NSA’s mission.

Research Plan (limit 8 pages)

• Specific Aims and Significance: Provide an overview of the literature and describe the specific aims of the proposed research. Discuss the significance and need for this study. Clearly describe how the study objectives relate to the NSA’s mission.
• Design and Methodology: Provide a description and justification for the study design. Include participants, data collection, data analysis, reliability, and pilot data (if applicable).
• Facilities and Resources: Describe the facilities, resources, collaborative relationships, and participants available to you for carrying out the proposed study.

References and Appendix (limit 6 pages)

The Appendix section is limited to blank data collection tools and materials such as interview guides, blank questionnaires, and/or blank scoring sheets. Content that is a continuation of one of the application sections is not permitted in the Appendix. Applications that include non-allowable information in the Appendix will not be reviewed.

Management Plan (limit 2 pages)

Describe study activities, timelines, submission of mid-point progress report and final report to the NSARC, and dissemination plans for research results. The study start date will be August 2024. Grant recipients are required to submit a progress report at the study’s mid-point and a final report of activities and outcomes to the NSARC in the last month of the study. The NSARC will provide report requirements upon awarding funds.

Itemized Budget (limit 2 pages)

Create an itemized budget for the project including detailed justification for each item. Institutional overhead and indirect costs are not permitted.

Investigator Biographical Sketch (limit 5 pages)

Provide an NIH-style biographical sketch. A form and sample are available on the NIH website [DOC].

Human Subjects

• If your study already has IRB approval, include the consent form(s) and a copy of the approval letter in your submission.
• If your study currently does not have IRB, your application should include the following (limit 3 pages)
  • Describe the characteristics of the participant population, including the anticipated number, age range, gender, ethnic background, and health status.
  • Identify sources of research materials in the form of specimens, records, and/or data.
  • Describe plans for the recruitment of participants and the consent procedures to be followed.
  • Describe the potential risks to participants (e.g., physical, psychological, social, legal, or other).
  • Describe the procedures for protecting against or minimizing potential risks to participants, including risks to confidentiality.
  • Discuss why risks to participants are reasonable in relation to the anticipated benefits and to the importance of possible resulting knowledge.

Additional Documents

• Applicants are required to upload a copy of their most recent unofficial transcripts as proof of current enrollment and good academic standing.
• As an option, applicants may upload a cover letter requesting the inclusion and/or exclusion of particular reviewers in the review of their application. Justification for these requests must be provided. Please note that fulfillment of requests is not guaranteed.
  * These documents should be uploaded individually and not as part of the PDF.