This book is written for several perspectives: First, to give top managers and directors the tools to do the evaluations efficiently and well, to enhance their visions of research, and to meet reporting demands of their funding sources, stakeholders, and public laws - for information about the wisdom of how research dollars are being spent. The evaluation methodology in this book permits center directors to implement and be involved in an on-going comparison over time. A baseline set of variables is presented that meets the growing demands for comparisons of evaluations and assessments of diverse organizations in science and research.
The approach in this book is useful for research institutes, centers, large and small laboratories as well as groups of centers and consortium of complex/multiple projects. This volume presents a systematic approach for research directors, laboratory operators, and top managers to apply a comprehensive evaluation model to their research units, and to educate stakeholders about effective stratigies for success.
One might ask “Do you know how your center compares to baseline data and similar centers across the world? Do you know how your host university ranks in support of your center? Do you know how well your center is performing in light of years in operation, scientific field of research or some other critical success measure? Do you know if your center is in full compliance on all regulatory procedures? Would your center benefit from close integration in a consortium?”
This book helps answer the above questions. It is a practical manual and guide and training aid that includes case studies, questionnaires, templates, and forms for doing the actual evaluations. It includes training materials and divisible forms for different units to fill out respectively. The volume also introduces evaluation of research to scholars, professionals, and graduate students, and anyone interested in the strategies, outcomes, impacts, funding and advancement of research.
Recent materials are also presented from several major federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Health and Human Services Agency (HHS), Department of Education (DE), Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NASA and a variety of other state and federal agencies.
The forms and templates provide a comprehensive format against which a science and research manager may assess his/her center or projects and view them in comparison with a number of “successful” centers, as identified on earlier surveys using much of the same measures. Such measures include ratios of expenditures to income, federal and institutional growth, efficiencies of operation, attaining scientific and health research objectives, technological impacts, social and economic change, staff-faculty proportions, amount of applied-basic research, and proportion of time devoted to educational activities and other mandated activities.
In writing the book, the author draws on his extensive experiences in science and health affairs, including, Dr Tash’s roles as Vice Provost for Research at a “research intensive” university and as a top governmental official in charge of health program planning and evaluation.
This volume includes criteria and indicators useful to collect and analyze essential data about centers, based on the experience gained from earlier surveys. The various types and varieties of centers are described and grouped according to missions, size, culture organization and scientific disciplines. They are generally discussed within a framework of growth and change within the university or industry settings.
Buy the Book click here
1. INTRODUCTION answers "Why evaluate research centers?" It gives a short review "Research Centers Rising" and the methodology and presentation of the chapters.
2. DEFINITION AND ORGANIZATION describes what research centers are and distinguishes between research centers, institutes, and laboratories.
3. TYPES OF CENTERS gives a typology (12 types) of research centers based on the national survey.
4. MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF CENTERS gives an overview of data from the national survey of research centers.
5. PLANNING TO EVALUATE CENTERS describes how to go about doing the evaluations, preparing for them, and designing them according to different perspectives, i.e., vice president for research, center or institute director, project director, funding source officers, or outside evaluators.
6. COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION discusses nine approaches to evaluation, government requirements, and criteria for measuring center activities, strategy, and 16 steps in evaluating research centers.
7. COLLECTING THE DATA discusses approaches and gives 15 forms and questionnaires to use.
8. ANALYZING THE DATA gives methodology for comparison with baseline data from the national survey of research centers.
9. PREPARING THE REPORTS discusses approaches and presents sample templates for report presentation.
10. CASE STUDIES information on evaluating research consortia, plus a framework for polling center directors on various aspects of their centers leading toward success.
11. CONCLUDING COMMENTS describes an emerging research super structure.
THE APPENDIX gives the GPRA Law, PART and examples, Regional Areas, and Highly Effective Centers Based on Multiple Criteria.
Buy the Book click here
Complete the survey and receive a $5 discount towards the purchase of the book!
