Definitions of Terms

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Applicant (principal investigator / project director)

An individual or an institution applying for SSHRC funds. Eligibility requirements may vary between specific funding opportunities.

For SSHRC fellowships or scholarships, applicants are individuals seeking funding to pursue a graduate degree or a period of postdoctoral research.

For SSHRC grants, the applicant is the principal investigator / project director. This means they have primary responsibility for the overall intellectual direction of the research, research-related activity or partnership. They are also accountable, with the host institution, for coordinating the grant’s overall financial and administrative aspects.

In partnerships, the intellectual leadership can be shared between the project director and members of the partnership, according to the terms of their agreement.

When institutions apply for SSHRC grants, the applicant is the postsecondary institution or not-for-profit organization. Such applicants must name an individual to act as the principal investigator / project director.

In most cases, individuals applying for grants must be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution. In some cases, the applicant can be affiliated with a not-for-profit organization. See the definition for eligible institution for further details.

Applicants who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of Canada must be employed in teaching or research by the institution for the entire duration of the grant —unless the eligibility criteria of the funding opportunity to which they are applying explicitly states otherwise.

Applicants cannot be employed as an assistant or associate for a research program directed by another researcher.

Applicants who are formally affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution, but who are employed outside the postsecondary education system, must demonstrate that their proposed research or research-related activity is not related to either the mandate of their regular non-academic employer or the normal duties for which they receive payment from that employer.

An applicant for a grant cannot be a student enrolled in a program of study. Any exceptions to this restriction are explained in the Eligibility section of the funding opportunities.

Artistic discipline

Any one, or any combination of, the following categories: architecture, design (including interior design), creative writing, visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, textiles), performing arts (dance, music, theatre), film, video, performance art, interdisciplinary arts, media and electronic arts, and new artistic practices.

Artist-researcher

An individual whose work involves research and the creation of works of art. Their work may include the training and mentoring of students and postdoctoral researchers. Individuals holding grants must be affiliated with an eligible Canadian institution.

Co-applicant (co-investigator)

An individual, participating in a grant application, who makes a significant contribution to the intellectual direction of the research or research-related activity, who plays a significant role in the conduct of the research or research-related activity, and who may also have some responsibility for financial aspects of the research. Eligibility requirements may vary between specific funding opportunities.

Subject to SSHRC approval, a co-applicant affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution may be named principal investigator in the event of the original principal investigator's death or resignation.

Co-director

An individual participating in a grant application who shares intellectual leadership with the project director and other co-directors, as applicable. A co-director plays a significant role in planning and conducting the research and research-related activity. While the project director and host institution are accountable for coordinating the grant’s overall financial administrative aspects, a co-director can have some responsibility for financial aspects of the research.

Subject to SSHRC approval, a co-director affiliated with an eligible institution can be named project director in the event of the original project director’s death or resignation.

Collaborator

An individual, participating in a grant application, who may make a significant contribution to the intellectual direction of the research or research-related activity, and who may play a significant role in the conduct of the research or research-related activity.

Collaborators are not eligible to be named principal investigator in the event of the original principal investigator's death or resignation. Collaborators do not need to be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution. With the exception of certain travel- and subsistence-related expenses, SSHRC does not cover expenses that research collaborators incur in the conduct of research or research-related activity.

Conference

A special event that: a) focuses on one or more distinct themes in the social sciences or humanities; and b) is open to Canadian and international researchers, as well as students, both graduate and, where appropriate, undergraduate.

Degree program

An academic program leading to a degree.

Disability

The Accessible Canada Act defines disability as “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment—or a functional limitation—whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.”

Eligible institution

Refers to any organization deemed eligible to administer SSHRC grants and awards. A postsecondary institution (college or university) or not-for-profit organization need only apply for institutional eligibility if a researcher from their institution is applying for a funding opportunity as an applicant. Institutional eligibility is distinct from funding opportunity eligibility. SSHRC awards three different institutional eligibility statuses: full, provisional and restricted (please see Institutional Eligibility—Guidelines and Requirements for more information).

Emerging scholar

An emerging scholar is someone who has not yet had the opportunity to establish an extensive record of research achievement, but is in the process of building one.

Applicants identifying themselves as an emerging scholar must demonstrate that they have not applied successfully, as principal investigator or project director, for a grant offered through SSHRC, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Emerging scholars may, however, have previously held or currently hold knowledge mobilization grants and/or SSHRC Partnership Engage Grants.

In addition, they must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  1. have completed their highest degree no more than six years before the competition deadline (SSHRC considers only the date of completion of the first doctorate); or
  2. have held a tenured or tenure-track postsecondary appointment for less than six years; or
  3. have held a postsecondary appointment, but never a tenure-track position (in the case of institutions that offer tenure-track positions); or
  4. have had their careers significantly interrupted or delayed for health or family reasons within the past six years.
Established scholar

Someone who has established—or who, since the completion of his or her highest degree, has had the opportunity to establish—a record of research achievement.

Formal partnership

A bilateral or multilateral formal collaboration agreement between an applicant and one or more partner organizations, of which at least one must be a Canadian postsecondary institution and at least one must be different from the institution or organization that will administer the grant funds. Partnerships may be between academic institutions, or between one or more academic institutions and one or more non-academic partner organizations. These partner organizations agree and commit to work collaboratively to achieve shared goals for mutual benefit. Partners must provide evidence attesting to the commitment that has been agreed upon.

While the formality of partnerships may vary, a formal partnership is grounded in trust and mutual respect, with partner organizations contributing in a meaningful way to the success of the endeavour. This may include, for example, sharing in intellectual leadership or providing expertise. The partner organization is also expected to provide cash and/or in-kind contributions.

Indigenous Research

Research in any field or discipline that is conducted by, grounded in or engaged with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or other Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals, and their wisdom, cultures, experiences or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present. Indigenous research can embrace the intellectual, physical, emotional and/or spiritual dimensions of knowledge in creative and interconnected relationships with people, places and the natural environment.

Whatever the methodologies or perspectives that apply in a given context, researchers who conduct Indigenous research, whether they are Indigenous or non-Indigenous themselves, commit to respectful relationships with all Indigenous peoples and communities.

This understanding of Indigenous research reaffirms SSHRC’s support of research by and with Indigenous peoples. Research by and with Indigenous peoples and communities emphasizes and values their existing strengths, assets and knowledge systems.

All research involving Indigenous peoples must be undertaken in accordance with the second edition of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, and, in particular, Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada.

Industry partner organization

A for-profit organization, or an organization that assists, supports, connects and/or represents the common interests of a group of for-profit, incorporated organizations, such as an industry association or a formal or informal consortium.

In-kind contribution

Goods or services contributed to support a specific research project or research-related activity.

Knowledge mobilization

The reciprocal and complementary flow and uptake of research knowledge between researchers, knowledge brokers and knowledge users—both within and beyond academia—in such a way that may benefit users and create positive impacts within Canada and/or internationally, and, ultimately, has the potential to enhance the profile, reach and impact of social sciences and humanities research. Knowledge mobilization initiatives must address at least one of the following, as appropriate, depending on research area and project objectives, context, and target audience:

Within academia:

  • informs, advances and/or improves:
    • research agendas;
    • theory; and/or
    • methods.

Beyond academia:

  • informs:
    • public debate;
    • policies; and/or
    • practice;
  • enhances/improves services; and/or
  • informs the decisions and/or processes of people in business, government, the media, practitioner communities and civil society.
Partner organization

A partner organization participates actively in a formal partnership and contributes in a meaningful way to the success of the endeavour. A partner organization may be, for example, a Canadian or foreign: postsecondary institution, government department (federal, provincial, territorial, municipal), for-profit or not-for-profit organization, or foundation. Partner organizations are required, for administrative purposes, to identify an individual who will act as a contact person. A partner organization is expected to support the activities of the formal partnership by sharing in intellectual leadership or providing expertise. The partner organization is also expected to provide cash and/or in-kind contributions.

Postsecondary institution

A public or private not-for-profit degree- or diploma-level university, university college or college established in accordance with appropriate provincial or territorial legislation.

Program of study

A program of proposed research as a partial requirement to obtain an academic degree.

Program of work

A program of proposed research in relation to an application for a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Record of research achievement

Includes any identifiable contributions made by applicants to the advancement, development and mobilization of knowledge related to the disciplines supported by SSHRC.

Referee

An expert submitting the assessment of an applicant and his/her program of study or work as part of an application for a fellowship or scholarship.

Research-creation:

An approach to research that combines creative and academic research practices, and supports the development of knowledge and innovation through artistic expression, scholarly investigation, and experimentation. The creation process is situated within the research activity and produces critically informed work in a variety of media (art forms). Research-creation cannot be limited to the interpretation or analysis of a creator’s work, conventional works of technological development, or work that focuses on the creation of curricula. The research-creation process and the resulting artistic work are judged according to SSHRC’s established merit review criteria.

Fields that may involve research-creation may include, but are not limited to: architecture, design, creative writing, visual arts (e.g., painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, textiles), performing arts (e.g., dance, music, theatre), film, video, performance art, interdisciplinary arts, media and electronic arts, and new artistic practices.

Research administrator

The organizational contact who confirms that the organization will take responsibility for the administration of SSHRC funds, should the applicant be awarded funding.

Research data management

The storage of, access to and preservation of data produced from one or more investigations, or from a program of research. Research data management practices cover the entire lifecycle of the data, from planning the investigation to conducting it, and from backing up data as it is created and used to preserving data for the long term after the research has concluded. It also includes data-sharing, where applicable.

Research institution

An institution with a research mandate and qualified research staff and/or research facilities.

Team

Includes an applicant (principal investigator / project director) and/or one or more co-applicants (co-investigators) or collaborators. In the case of an institutional application, the organization’s designated contact person is part of the team.

Tools for research and related activities

Research and related tools as vehicles that broadly facilitate research and related activities. Social science and humanities tools enable researchers to collect, organize, analyze, visualize, mobilize and store quantitative and qualitative data and creative outputs. Tools can be created as part of a research or related undertaking, or purchased off the shelf.

Workshop

A small, invitational event of 30 or fewer participants, the object of which is to: a) develop a particular research agenda or delineate specific research questions and needs; and b) produce a concrete deliverable (book, policy position paper, etc.).

Workshop participant

Someone who is actively involved in the event, such as a presenter, a discussant or a panelist.

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