research programs best practices related to research problem identification, scoping, and...
TRANSCRIPT
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Best Practices Related to Research Problem Identification, Scoping, and Programming: A
State DOT Research Manager’s View
Sue SillickMontana Department of Transportation
July 2011
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Issue 1
Identification of research problems by staff who are not regularly involved in research leads to requests for proposals that are too proscriptive; which, in turn, tie the researcher’s hands in proposing an optimal research work plan
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Issue 2
Most researchers would find it preferable if department staff would identify problems they encounter in their day-to-day work rather than trying to scope out “research problem statements”
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Issues 1 and 2
Problem/Topic Statement DevelopmentIdentification and development of research problems by practitioners, researchers, or in collaboration between the twoRelevantHigh priorityUnderstand the issuesApplied research
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Issues 1 and 2
Scope of Work DevelopmentProscriptive/Restrictive vs. open-ended/Unconstrained
Scope of Works lead to proposalsEssential research components vs. those that are open to interpretationSet project budget
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Issue 3
Given that most departments have more research problems than their research budgets will allow them to fully investigate, there seems to be no single optimal process to evaluate individual project requests for prioritization within the research program.
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Conclusions
Can we be less proscriptive in scope of work development?Can we move toward identifying the problems rather than developing scopes of work?Can we agree on a single optimal process?
