Have you ever struggled to assess whether a potentially new research project is worth starting? If your answer to this question is “yes!”, then you need to read this paper. Or, if you have ever been daunted by the task of how to skilfully and efficiently guide a research student/early career researcher on how to identify a worthwhile area of research focus, then you need to read this paper. Or, if you are simply looking for a supplementary device to help screen quality PhD applicants, then you need to read this paper. Accordingly, herein Prof. Robert Faff sets out a simple and methodical approach to pitching a new empirical research proposal. With a novice researcher in mind (e.g. Honours student, PhD student, early career researcher), a template for the pitch is provided with general advice on how best to apply it. A variety of supplementary material is made available in an online Internet appendix, as follows. To show that the pitch template is readily adaptable to many fields of endeavour, five completed examples are given for: (a) finance; (b) accounting; (c) corporate sustainability; (d) inter-disciplinary; and (e) qualitative topics. A log of the “early adopters” of the pitch template is also provided. Further, Prof. Robert Faff presents and discuss a range of feedback received on the earlier versions of this paper. Finally, in the Internet appendix, Prof. Robert Faff also includes a section that provides general advice to third-party users of the template – including research methods instructors; postgraduate coordinators and doctoral symposium organisers.
The pitch template has become a key component of several new initiatives:
- Learn about the implementation of the template in doctoral symposia around the world, including Bologna, Italy; Trondheim, Norway; and Ljubljana, Slovenia. It has also become an integral part of the AFAANZ Doctoral Education Network (AFDEN).
- Read about the adoption of the pitch template for all new AFAANZ grant applications.
- Check out the launch of Pitching Research Letters (PRL), a new dedicated section of the Journal of Accounting and Management Information Systems(JAMIS).
Watch out for “Pitching Research” stress balls at conferences and events at a location near you – in Australia or around the globe! It’s time to work on our collective pitching game.
Pitch My Research 