A Use-And-Transformation Model For Evaluating Public R&D: Illustrations From Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Research
February 2007
in “
Evaluation and Program Planning
”
TLDR The document suggests a new model for evaluating public research that better captures the full value of knowledge creation and use, using PCOS research as an example.
The document introduces a use-and-transformation model for evaluating public R&D, with a focus on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) research. This model prioritizes capacity-based metrics over traditional outcome-based metrics, arguing that the value of federal R&D investment is often understated when only considering economic or productivity measures. The model is based on the concept of a Knowledge Value Collective (KVC), which includes both knowledge producers and users who add value to information through its use and transformation. The paper, drawing from 43 interviews with infertility researchers, suggests that evaluating the KVC as a whole, rather than individual projects, provides a more comprehensive assessment of research contributions. The document also discusses the complexity of PCOS, differentiating between polycystic ovaries (PCO) and PCOS, and emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach to advance understanding. The use-and-transformation model is proposed as a more inclusive and dynamic approach to evaluating federally funded R&D, capturing the interchange between funded labs and the broader knowledge community.
