A new researcher obtains a large grant and proceeds to hire nine assistants, as the grant specifies

Question

The new researcher hires a statistician, three persons to collect data, one person to schedule and coordinate the activities of the persons collecting data, one person to help with qualitative data analysis, one person to begin writing for the grant renewal, one person to write the interim report, and one person to manage the grant budget, writing weekly checks to the research assistants based on their submitted timecards. Which of these activities is appropriate for a hired assistant? (Select all that apply.)
a. Advising the research team about appropriate statistical tests
b. Recalculating the study power after data collection on the first thirty subjects, to be sure of the effect size
c. Performing initial qualitative coding of raw data
d. Writing the first draft of a renewal grant
e. Writing the interim report for the institutional review board
f. Managing the grant budget
g. Writing weekly checks to the research assistants

Answer 1

ANS: A, B, C, G
Although the supporting institution is ultimately responsible for dispensing and controlling grant monies, the primary investigator (PI) is responsible for keeping track of budget expenditures and making decisions about how the money is to be spent. If funding is through a federal agency, the PI will be required to provide interim reports as well as updates on the progress of the study. The PI interviews, hires, trains, and oversees grant personnel. During a large study with several investigators and other grant personnel, the PI coordinates activities, often through formal meetings of all grant workers at intervals to share ideas and solve problems. Federal grants require the PI to submit interim reports according to preset deadlines. The PI often writes the renewal grant as soon as the first grant has been made, so that continuous research activity can be accomplished. In theory, the PI could be planning one study, collecting data on a second study, analyzing data on a third study, and writing papers for publication on a fourth study. A full-time researcher could have completed one funded study, be in the last year of funding for a second study, be in the first year of funding for a third study, and be seeking funding for a fourth study.