RESEARCH ASSISTANCE
Chair
Tonya M. Parker, PhD, AT, ATC
Grand Valley State University
Members:
Brian Hatzel, PhD, AT, ATC, Grand Valley State University
John Powell, PhD, AT, ATC, Michigan State University (Emeritus)
Steve Smith, DAT, AT, ATC, University of Michigan
Adam Lepley, PhD, AT, ATC, University of Michigan
Tyler Harris, PhD, Adrian College
About Us:
The purpose of this committee is to encourage and foster research and scholarly activity among the MATS membership. We provide grants to ATs and Students and organize a Free Communications session at the MATS Annual Meeting and Symposium. We strive to be a constructive resource that provides information about research in Athletic Training.
Goals, Functions, and Responsibilities:
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Be a consultative resource for information concerning research project merit, research design and oral/written presentation of research results.
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Work with the MATS Professional Education Committee to organize the free communication sessions (certified member and non-certified member) at the MATS Annual Clinical Symposium.
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Promote the research and scholarly activity of MATS members, non-members, and students.
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Provide financial assistance to MATS certified and student members seeking to complete novel scholarly projects that advance the profession of Athletic Training.
Research Assistance Grants
Thank you for your interest in the Michigan Athletic Trainers’ Society (MATS) Research Assistance Grant! The purpose of these grants is to provide financial assistance to MATS members to complete original research studies that advance the Athletic Training profession.
Applications with a total direct cost of up to $3000 for will be funded. There will be two funding cycles each calendar year. The deadlines will be 5:00 pm EST on the last Friday in September and February.
Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision within two months of the grant deadlines. Funds will be available to successful applicants approximately 30 days of notification of funding and must be used within one year.
Successful applicants must submit a final report (including budget). For Fall grant awardees, final reports are due by December 1 of the year after funding decision. For Spring grant awardees, final reports are due by May 1 of the year after funding decision. Moreover, funded applicants must acknowledge MATS funding on future publications or presentations as well as present the results of their study at a future MATS annual meeting. Other eligibility, obligations, and instructions can be found in the grant application.
Free Communications Program
Research Abstract Instructions
The abstract submission process is similar to the NATAREF peer-reviewed track (www.natafoundation.org). Abstract headings must be per NATAREF guidelines and correct for the type of research performed (e.g., Case report, Systematic Review).
Failure to follow these guidelines will result in automatic rejection of the abstract without peer review.
Authors must submit 2 copies of their abstract saved as ‘.doc’ (i.e., Microsoft Word files) on the ensuing pages. Do NOT submit as ‘.pdf’ files. On page 2 of this application form, insert a blinded copy of the abstract with the author name(s) and affiliation(s) removed. The title should remain at the top of the abstract, however. On page 3, keep the author name(s), affiliation(s), and title above the abstract.
Page margins must be set at 1 inch on all sides using the standard 8.5 x 11 inch format.
Use either Arial or Helvetica 12 point font with single spacing.
For the non-blinded copy (page 3), provide the title starting at the top left margin. On the next line, indent 3 spaces enter the author(s) last name, then initials (without spaces or periods), followed by a comma, and continue for all additional authors (if any), end with a colon. Following the colon, indicate the institution (including city and state) where the research was conducted (author and institutional information does not count in the word limit).
There is a 450-word limit for Basic Research, Meta-Analysis Research, Systematic Reviews, and Qualitative or Survey submissions. Limit is on words, not characters.
There is a 600-word limit for Clinical Case Reports and Clinical Case Series. Limit is on words, not characters.
Do not use bullets, italics, bold or underline to emphasize major points in the abstract.
The abstract must be typed using a word processing program and inserted on the next page of this abstract submission form.
The abstract submission deadline is 5:00 pm on the first Monday in March each year.
The primary author submitting the proposal should receive notification of acceptance in March.
Please direct questions and submissions to the RAC Chair, Tonya M. Parker at mats.rac@gmail.com.