B2-08 / CEFR B2 / EPISODE 08

Grant Interview

Explaining a study's purpose and uncertainty

SceneFrank is being interviewed by a grant committee. He's asking for two years of funding to study the sleep of night-shift workers.

Frank reviewing documents with an interview panel. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Frank is being interviewed by a grant committee. He's asking for two years of funding to study the sleep of night-shift workers.

フランクは助成金委員会の面接を受けている。夜勤労働者の睡眠を研究するため、2年分の資金を申請しているのだ。

Chair01

I've read your proposal, so let me start simple. Why sleep, and why night workers?

提案書は読みました。ですから、単純なことから伺います。なぜ睡眠、そしてなぜ夜勤労働者なのですか？

Frank02

Because the city runs on night workers — nurses, drivers, bakers. But the studies I reviewed only followed them for six months.

街は夜勤で働く人たちに支えられているからです——看護師、運転手、パン職人。でも、私が検討した研究では、追跡期間が6か月しかありませんでした。

Chair03

And yours runs two years. Why?

あなたの研究は2年間続く。なぜです？

Frank04

I want to see whether they adjust over time or keep getting more tired. Following them for two years should give us a clearer picture.

時間とともに適応するのか、それとも疲労が蓄積していくのかを確かめたいんです。2年間追跡すれば、その違いがより明確になるはずです。

Chair05

Two hundred sleep trackers, ninety dollars each. That's the biggest line item in your equipment budget. Why trackers?

睡眠トラッカー200個、1個90ドル。機器の予算では最大の費目ですね。なぜトラッカーなのですか？

Frank06

They let us follow sleep at home. Each worker can use one for two years, for less than a single night in a sleep lab.

自宅での睡眠を追跡できるからです。睡眠ラボで一晩測定するより安く、一人につき1台を2年間使えます。

Chair07

And when workers drop out halfway?

参加者が途中で抜けたら？

Frank08

Some will. I need a hundred and sixty to finish, so I am starting with two hundred. That allows for forty dropouts.

抜ける人は出ます。最後まで参加してもらいたい人数は160人なので、200人で始めます。40人の脱落を見込んでいます。

Chair09

One reviewer wanted the social benefit spelled out. Be specific.

ある審査員が、社会的便益を明確に、と。具体的にお願いします。

Frank10

If we find which shift patterns leave workers better rested, hospitals could use that to plan schedules. The aim is to reduce fatigue.

どんな勤務パターンなら、働く人がより休息を取れるか分かれば、病院がシフトを組む際に役立てられます。疲労を減らすのが目標です。

Chair11

And if workers are still just as tired after two years?

では、2年たっても疲れ具合が変わらなかったら？

Frank12

Then I will report that finding, even if it is not what we hoped to hear. An uncomfortable answer is still an answer.

なら、期待した結果でなくても、その結果を報告します。不都合な答えも、答えです。

Chair13

You'll hear from us in two weeks. Try not to lose sleep over it — unless you want to be your own first data point.

結果は2週間後にお知らせします。気になって眠れなくならないように。ご自分が最初のデータになりたいなら別ですが。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“the biggest line item in your equipment budget”

A line item is an individual entry in a budget or invoice. Biggest line item means the entry with the highest cost, and in your equipment budget limits the comparison to equipment. The chair identifies two hundred sleep trackers at ninety dollars each as the largest equipment expense.

“That allows for forty dropouts.”

Allow for something means to include a margin for it in advance. A dropout is someone who leaves before completing the activity. Starting with two hundred participants allows forty to withdraw while still leaving the desired one hundred sixty.

“wanted the social benefit spelled out”

Spell out literally means to give each letter, but often means to explain clearly and in detail. Want something spelled out requests explicit explanation. The reviewers want the research's benefit to society stated concretely.

“You'll hear from us in two weeks.”

You'll hear from us … is a standard promise of contact after an interview or review, similar to We'll be in touch. Hear from someone means to receive their communication. The person awaiting a reply can use hear back, as in B2-34 and B2-44. Here the result will arrive in two weeks.

“Try not to lose sleep over it”

Lose sleep over something means to be unable to sleep from worry, or simply to worry excessively. Don't lose sleep over it. offers reassurance. The chair makes a sleep-related joke to a sleep researcher: Frank could become his own first data point if worry keeps him awake.

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