Example of Rationale and Aims

Exactly what is meant by "Rationale" and "Specific Aims". Rationale describes the underlying basis for the study, and Specific Aims list exactly what you propose to do. Suppose, for example, I propose to study developmentally significant changes in eggs before and after fertilization.

Part I C of the outline for your proposal might read like this.

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In this study, I propose to investigate therapeutic touch can cure in-grown toenails.

Rationale.

Therapeutic touch is believed to align the “electrical fields” of the body. Since the brain communicates by electrical signals, realigning these “fields” could stimulate the hypothalamus to release toenail-growth-stimulating-factor and thereby causing the toenails to grow rapidly through the encapsulating skin.

Specific Aims.

1. I propose to determine whether therapeutic touch can cure ingrown toenails.

2. I propose to determine whether therapeutic touch is safe.

3. If therapeutic touch is effective in curing ingrown toenails, I propose to determine whether hypothalamic activity increases after applying therapeutic touch.

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