Evaluating federal research programs : research and the Government Performance and Results Act / Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (U.S.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Government Performance and Results Act of 1993.

United States.

Research--United States--Evaluation.

Research.

Engineering--Research--United States--Evaluation.

Engineering.

Administrative agencies--United States--Management--Evaluation.

Administrative agencies.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (94 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1999.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), passed by Congress in 1993, requires that federal agencies write five-year strategic plans with annual performance goals and produce an annual report that demonstrates whether the goals have been met. The first performance reports are due in March 2000. Measuring the performance of basic research is particularly challenging because major breakthroughs can be unpredictable and difficult to assess in the short term. This book recommends that federal agencies use an "expert review" method to examine the quality of research they support, the relevance of that research to their mission, and whether the research is at the international forefront of scientific and technological knowledge. It also addresses the issues of matching evaluation measurements to the character of the research performed, improving coordination among agencies when research is in the same field, and including a human resource development component in GPRA strategic and performance plans.

Contents:

Front Matter; Preface; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; Contents; Executive Summary; CHAPTER 1 Statement of the Problem; CHAPTER 2 Research and the Federal Government; CHAPTER 3 Measuring AND EVALUATING Federally Funded Research; CHAPTER 4 Recommendations; APPENDIX A COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND PUBLIC POLICY MEMBERS' BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION; APPENDIX B HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE LETTER; APPENDIX C PROJECT SUMMARY; APPENDIX D government performance and results act; APPENDIX E REFERENCES

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-80).

ISBN:

9786612083716

9780309173278

0309173272

9781282083714

1282083716

9780309517980

0309517982

9780585058542

0585058547

OCLC:

885455376