Developing research questions through grant proposal development

Developing good research ideas is both a science and an art. Teaching stude nts how to select and then conceptualize the research idea requires both to ols and practice. This paper discusses the identification of an appropriate research question and the refinement of it into a working research plan in the format of a grant proposal. The author has used the development of a g rant proposal to demonstrate the linkages between theoretical models of agi ng policy and aging policy research in a master's level Aging and Public Po licy Course. In this course students choose, develop, and refine a research statement in response to a request for proposal from an independent founda tion. The theoretical knowledge cycle is used to discuss how these students learn over time to refine and reformulate their ideas into workable resear ch questions. Students report that writing for a real funding entity allows them to develop both proficiency with the construction of a research quest ion and research plan and develop expertise with aging policy.