EAGER: Exploring Convergence Research: An Initial Examination of What It Means and What It Hopes to Accomplish

这个EAGER项目将创建和实施一个有前途的，新颖的，但未经测试的，融合研究项目的评估方法。 拟议的努力将建立一个以证据为基础的框架，并为趋同研究的过程和结果制定一套适当的指标;然而，这种评价方法也将适用于大多数类型的基础研究。这解决了评估领域的一个重大挑战，因为基础研究过程往往会从最初的提案演变和变化，而预期的结果往往在赠款资助结束后很久才出现。 这一项目如果成功，有可能对评价领域作出重大贡献，从而也将加强各机构和其他基础研究供资者的能力，以生成和使用关于其投资的效率和效力的证据，为决策提供信息。该提案最重要的技术方面是，它提出了一种高度创新的使用文献计量数据和先进的统计模型的方法，作为制定评估框架的投入（例如，变革理论、逻辑模型、评价问题、指标）。通常，这些技术用于回答评估问题，而不是在设计的前端。 该项目的其他数据来源包括文献综述，机构利益相关者访谈，并从文件审查的融合研究资源的信息脚手架。本项目的成果包括：景观研究、变革理论、趋同研究的逻辑模型和一套初步指标。该项目的预期成果包括：（1）增加对关键趋同研究概念和变化机制的了解，（2）出现共同措施来指导证据的生成和使用，（三）为基础研究领域的广泛资助者及其服务的科学团体提供信息和促进决策。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This EAGER project will create and implement a promising, novel but untested, approach for the evaluation of convergence research projects. The effort proposed will create an evidence-based framework and set of appropriate indicators of processes and results for convergence research; however, this evaluation approach will also be relevant for most types of basic research. This addresses a significant challenge in the field of evaluation—given that basic research processes often evolve and change from initial proposals and desired results often emerge long after the grant funding ends. This project, if successful, has the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of evaluation and thus will also strengthen the capacity of agencies and other funders of basic research to generate and use evidence about the efficiency and effectiveness of their investments to inform decisions. The most important technical aspect of this proposal is that it proposes a highly innovative use of bibliometric data and advanced statistical modelling as inputs into the development of an assessment framework (e.g., theory of change, logic model, evaluation questions, indicators). Typically, these techniques are used to answer evaluation questions, not on the front-end of design. The other data sources for this project include literature reviews, agency stakeholder interviews, and scaffolding of information from document review of convergence research resources. The deliverables from this project include: a landscape study, a theory of change, and logic model for convergence research, and a set of preliminary indicators. The anticipated outcomes of this project include: (1) an increase in knowledge of key convergence research concepts and change mechanisms, (2) the emergence of common measures to guide the generation and use of evidence in ways that, (3) inform and catalyze decisions across a broad landscape of funders in the field of basic research and the scientific communities they serve.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.