Review of Disability and Rehabilitation Research NIDRR Grantmaking Processes and Products (2012) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
3 NIDRR's Priority-Setting Processes
3 NIDRR's Priority-Setting Processes
Pages 56-82
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 56... ...
As used in the study question, the term "priority-writing" process encompasses many aspects of priority setting, including gathering input from multiple sources (e.g., the field, stakeholder organizations, grantees, other agencies, and persons with disabilities and their families) , identifying potential topics and determining priorities for funding, writing the proposed priorities and having them cleared for release, and publishing notices inviting applications (NIAs)
|
From page 57... ...
The first describes NIDRR's priority-setting process based on existing documentation and interviews with NIDRR executives. The second presents an assessment of the process, based on data gathered from NIDRR staff, grantees, and stakeholder organizations.
|
From page 58... ...
, of the Rehabilitation Act states that, starting in October 1998 and every subsequent fifth October, the NIDRR Director will develop and publish in the Federal Register for public comment a draft LRP outlining NIDRR's priorities, explaining the basis for those priorities, and providing a broad framework for the funding of research aimed at achieving the priorities. Every fifth subsequent June, after consideration of public comments, the final LRP with revisions will be submitted to the appropriate members of Congress.
|
From page 59... ...
Agency staff utilized considerable outside assistance to gather input from the public. These efforts included hiring a contractor to support teleconferences linking NIDRR staff with centers around the country and forming a steering committee.
|
From page 60... ...
. According to NIDRR management, whileeditablehas standard procedures for the various stages Figure 3-1, NIDRR of priority setting, described below, the length of time required for new proposed priorities to obtain ED approval and clearance varies.
|
From page 61... ...
In addition, the NIDRR Director and the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services often identify potential priority topics of high importance (National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, 2009)
|
From page 62... ...
: • I ncidence and prevalence of the condition to be targeted • P roblem or need addressed, in terms of improved policy, practice, behavior, or system capacity • H ow the priority topic builds upon the state of the science in this topic area • N IDRR's historical investment in this topic area, key findings from NIDRR investments in this area, and how the proposed priority topic builds upon these investments • H ow the priority topic relates to the work of NIDRR's relevant federal partners, or other organizations that fund research • R eal-world relevance of this topic to people with disabilities • H ow this priority topic addresses the needs of individuals with dis abilities from minority backgrounds • H ow the priority topic fits under NIDRR LRP goals, objectives, and strategies The written descriptions of the potential topics are discussed with the NIDRR Director who then approves topics to be published as priorities and presents these to the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The process of identifying funding priorities generally takes 3 to 5 months or longer.
|
From page 63... ...
Notices of Final Priority After the close of the public comment period, NIDRR staff review comments on the NPP, respond to the comments, and develop a notice of final priority (NFP) (National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, 2009)
|
From page 64... ...
With regard to the roles of project officers, some play a very active part in proposing priority topics, conducting the literature reviews for proposed priorities, and writing the proposed priorities. Other project officers commented that their role in priority setting is fairly minimal.
|
From page 65... ...
There are also tensions at play between proponents of the continuance of large center grant priorities and those of smaller, flexible, more problem-focused or field-driven priorities. It was suggested that NIDRR should gather information from the field more regularly to inform priority setting and that NIDRR could benefit from the use of a national advisory board with more diverse disability research expertise to inform its priority-setting process.
|
From page 66... ...
Perspectives of NIDRR Stakeholder Organizations Because stakeholder input is a fundamental aspect of priority setting, the committee gathered information on stakeholder perspectives on NIDRR's long-range planning and priority-setting processes by surveying three key stakeholder groups. First, in NIDRR's most immediate network of stakeholders are other federal agencies with which it interacts and collaborates in order to achieve its mission.
|
From page 67... ...
Responding representatives of stakeholder organizations were asked closed- and open-ended questions about their role in the NIDRR planning and priority-setting processes, their perspectives on the processes, benefits their organization derived from NIDRR grants or outputs, and suggestions for enhancements to the priority-setting process. Methods As discussed in Chapter 2, the committee sent invitations to participate in the survey to executive directors of 130 professional and advocacy organizations identified by NIDRR as stakeholders and to organizations that are statutory members of the ICDR or nonstatutory members that have participated in ICDR special committees, as identified through a list provided by the ICDR.
|
From page 68... ...
Involvement in and perspectives on NIDRR priority setting Stakeholders were asked about their involvement in NIDRR's priority-setting process through submission of comments and review of the LRP and/or funding priorities. A majority (63 percent)
|
From page 69... ...
(%) Transparent 70 18 52 4 10 46 29 11 Publicized 71 15 56 2 14 36 32 16 Relevant to your 68 10 58 2 10 21 31 36 organization Responsive to 71 15 56 -- 13 36 31 20 emerging issues in disability and rehabilitation/ research Welcoming of 70 22 48 -- 6 50 23 21 stakeholder organization feedback Responsive to 70 28 42 -- 26 45 19 10 stakeholder organization feedback *
|
From page 70... ...
The proportion of valid responses that characterized NIDRR grants as beneficial and NIDRR products as useful along the five-point scale is shown to the right of the "Valid Responses" column. The first row of Table 3-2 shows that 39 percent of respondents from stakeholder organizations indicated that the grants NIDRR funds are "somewhat" advancing the field in a direction that is beneficial for their organization and the members and consumers they represent, while 41 percent stated that the grants are "more than somewhat" to "very much" beneficial.
|
From page 71... ...
Professional associations, advocacy organizations, and federal agencies often experience high turnover in their executive positions, so it is possible that some of these respondents were less than familiar with NIDRR because they were relatively new to their job. Summary of Qualitative Responses Four open-ended questions asked respondents to elaborate on their responses to the quantitative questions and additionally to offer suggestions for enhancing NIDRR's long-range planning and priority-setting processes: • P lease use the space below to comment on the above, or any other types of interactions, your organization has had with NIDRR.
|
From page 72... ...
72 TABLE 3-2 Distribution of Ratings of the Extent to Which NIDRR's Grants Are Perceived as Beneficial and Their Products Are Used (72 respondents) Scale Number of Number of "Not Number Not at Less Than More Than Total "Don't Know" Applicable" of Valid All Somewhat Somewhat Somewhat Very Much Responses Responses Responses Responses (%)
|
From page 73... ...
Respondents from 3 professional associations and advocacy organizations remarked that they have met with NIDRR staff to prepare materials to be used in advocating with Congress for NIDRR funding. Respondents from 6 of these organizations stated that NIDRR staff have attended their meetings and forums to inform members about program mechanisms and research priorities.
|
From page 74... ...
Respondents from eight other stakeholder organizations suggested establishing quality improvement initiatives related to priority setting by, for example, investigating how other federal agencies establish priorities, communicating the details of the process, and incorporating feedback. Strengths and needs related to outreach and dissemination Although respondents from four of the stakeholder organizations stated that they were unaware of available products of NIDRR grants, respondents from 8 professional and advocacy organizations and from 11 federal agencies commented that NIDRR's website and other linked sources (e.g., National Rehabilitation Information Center [NARIC]
|
From page 75... ...
Policies and practices related to priority setting Finally, four federal agency respondents suggested that NIDRR should review and adapt its current policies and practices that guide the long-range planning and priority-setting processes to include standardized timelines and a review of progress halfway through the 5-year LRPs. One federal agency respondent proposed a specific set of guidelines for priority setting that would (a)
|
From page 76... ...
Respondents thought NIDRR's priority-setting process least reflected the attribute of responsiveness to stakeholder organization feedback. In open-ended remarks, stakeholder organizations emphasized the benefits of NIDRR's specialized mission and scope of research, its specific program mechanisms, and funding of grants aimed at increasing accessibility and community participation for people with disabilities.
|
From page 77... ...
As documented in the survey data presented in this chapter, a number of relevant stakeholder organizations, including professional associations, advocacy associations, and federal agencies, are less familiar with NIDRR than they might be expected to be. An advisory council could provide another way for these stakeholder organizations to interact meaningfully with NIDRR.
|
From page 78... ...
The committee believes more could be done to involve stakeholders earlier in the process of identifying potential priority topics.
|
From page 79... ...
The recommended advisory council might assist in regularizing and expanding the inclusivity of the process. With regard to priority setting, NIDRR should seek more formal input from the field on potential priority topics earlier in the process and pursue maximum participation from stakeholders.
|
From page 80... ...
Additionally, NIDRR might consider the long-range planning and priority setting of other funding agencies, including NIH, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which have sought to integrate long-range planning and priority-setting processes through specific initiatives such as the NIH Roadmap, the NSF Strategic Plan, and the National Occupational Research Agenda. Establishment of a Standard Calendar For many program mechanisms, NIDRR has not established a regular schedule for drafting and approving priorities and NIAs and disseminating them to the field.
|
From page 81... ...
In addition to better supporting applicants, establishing a standard calendar would reduce some of the burden on NIDRR staff caused by the current unanticipatable priority-setting timeline. Delays in priority setting also often cause delays and/or shortened timelines in the peer review process (see Chapter 4)
|
From page 82... ...
. Deliberative priority setting.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.