Methods for Evaluation of the National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR): Qualitative Analyses/Enhanced Research Base

October, 2014
IDA document: D-5321
FFRDC: Science and Technology Policy Institute
Type: Documents
Authors:
Authors
Rachel A. Parker, Brian L. Zuckerman See more authors
This presentation was prepared for a meeting of the American Evaluation Association in October 2014. As the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) evaluation was a life-of-program assessment, STPI researchers needed to collect and analyze data from years of program documentation, including solicitations, proposals, and annual reports. This presentation describes the coding approach taken and its implementation using the software package nVivo, focusing on EPSCoR education, outreach, and diversity activities, institution-building activities, and innovation-promoting activities. The presentation also describes the design and implementation of a survey of EPSCoR jurisdictions to collect quantifiable as well as qualitative data regarding program ctivities, outputs, and outcomes. In addition, it examines approaches taken to assess capacity development with respect both to competitiveness for funding and States' science and engineering research bases.