NIRS Activities:Research and Evaluation

12/30/2015

What We Will Cover Today

1. Research and Evaluation1. What is Research and Evaluation

2. Entering Research and Evaluation Activities in NIRS

Defining Research and Evaluation• What it Isn’t: evaluating CDD trainings, presentations (e.g., evaluations of sessions at

CDD-sponsored conferences or meetings, or one-time formal presentations), or technical assistance activities using standard CDD evaluation forms.

• “Research and Evaluation” happens when CDD staff or faculty engage in basic or applied research as a primary activity in a project.

• It can be a separate project with its own index number, or a formal part of a larger project.

• Research and evaluation activities use methods such as experimental or quasi-experimental design, interviews, focus groups, surveys, or analysis of secondary data sources. They generally result in reports to sponsors, presentations at academic or scientific conferences or publication in peer-reviewed journals.

• Non-research and evaluation activities can also result in presentations and publications (e.g., reporting on an innovative program that was developed at the CDD).

Some Examples

• Evaluation of the Inter-Professional Practice in Primary Care Project: the CDD was asked to evaluate an innovation (introducing oral health care in primary care settings) developed by UNM’s College of Nursing and Dental Medicine program. The goal is to assess the impact of the innovation on patient outcomes. This activity is also a project; it has a separate index number.

• Aberrant Development of Post-Movement Beta Rebound in Adolescents and Young Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: this control – experimental group research examined the impact of drinking alcohol during pregnancy on the development of brain functions in children aged 12 to 22. It was part of a larger project.

• Health and Other Disparities for People who are Paralyzed in the United States: the CDD worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to design and implement a population-based, random-digit survey of over 70,000 U.S. households to gather information on disparities (inequities) faced by people who are paralyzed. This activity is part of a larger project that has non-research and evaluation activities as well.

Examples, Continued…..

• Relationship between Participation in Patient- and Family-Centered Care Training and Communication Adaptability among Medical Students: Changing Hearts, Changing Minds: this research used a pretest – posttest administration of an instrument called “Duran’s 1983 Communicative Adaptability Scale” to examine the impact of training for 43 students in medical school on their communication skills. This was done as part of the LEND program by a LEND trainee.

• Evaluation of the “I Can Do It, You Can Do It” Health Promotion Intervention: the CDD designed and implemented a national, three-year randomized control group study to evaluate the efficacy of a new health promotion intervention for the HHS Office on Disability designed to increase physical activity and good nutritional behavior among young people and adolescents with disabilities. This activity was also a project and had a separate index number.

Entering Data in NIRS – Information Needed

• Title of Activity

• Brief Description

• Staff Involvement

• Target Audience

• Type of Activity (UCEDD)

• Area of Emphasis

• Number of Participants

• Collaborating Agencies

• Affiliated Project(s)

• Duration

• Date of Activity

• County Served (if applicable)

• Event City (if applicable)

• At CDD

• Did the research address ASD/DD? (CAAI)

• Person entering Data

• NIRS Record Status

NIRS Website

Login Screen for NIRS

NIRS Welcome Screen

Adding Activity – Performing Research or Evaluation

Entering Additional Data About Research and Evaluation Activities

• If there were one or more products resulting from the research and evaluation activity, they should be entered under “Products”

• Presentations at conferences• Reports to Sponsor• Articles in peer-reviewed or non-peer-reviewed

publications• “White Papers”, progress reports, etc.