Supporting Statement B -- Return on Investment of AHRQ’s Individual Career Development (K) Award Program Evaluation

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Part B

Return on Investment of AHRQ’s Individual Career Development (K) Award Program Evaluation

OMB No. 0935-0106

January 27, 2015

Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Table of Contents

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods 3

1. Respondent universe and sampling methods 3

2. Information Collection Procedures 3

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates 3

4. Tests of Procedures 3

5. Statistical Consultants 4

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. Respondent universe and sampling methods

This survey will be administered to the entire population of AHRQ K Award recipients in the timeframe under consideration for this K Program evaluation study (n = 167). As such, no stratification or sample selection is required.

2. Information Collection Procedures

The survey will be administered online using a virtual tool developed by Atlas Research, LLC; Atlas Research, LLC has used this tool in previous studies with satisfactory results. This will be a one-time data collection, and respondents will not be contacted subsequent to their initial survey response.

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates

AHRQ anticipates K Program grantees will welcome the opportunity to provide their feedback for this K Program evaluation project and AHRQ reasonably expects a robust grantee response.

To maximize response rates, AHRQ will make the initial email contact with K program grantees to inform them about the K Program evaluation study and to let them know of AHRQ’s interest in receiving their feedback about their experiences in the program and their professional pursuits since receiving the AHRQ K award. Additionally, within this initial email contact, AHRQ will introduce the contractor, Atlas Research, LLC, who will follow-up within a few days with a subsequent email message to grantees containing the K Program Grantee survey link. The survey link will remain active for approximately 1 – 3 months, depending on data collection completion status.

Further, the survey has been designed to elicit information efficiently from respondents and is anticipated to take each respondent no longer than 15 minutes to complete. To encourage timely completion of the survey, Atlas Research, LLC will send email reminders to awardees periodically throughout the data collection process.

4. Tests of Procedures

The survey will be administered using virtual tool developed by Atlas Research, LLC; this tool has been used in previous studies with satisfactory results. Atlas Research, LLC will test the tool internally with at least three individuals to ensure it is working correctly and that the information is being captured appropriately. Similarly, AHRQ will test the tool internally with at least three individuals to ensure it is working correctly and that the information is being captured appropriately. If problems occur when administering the survey, Atlas Research, LLC, in collaboration with AHRQ, will troubleshoot and adjust survey tool. Survey content will not be altered.

5. Statistical Consultants

Atlas Research, LLC, will administer the survey. The primary statistical consultants will be:

• Clarke Erickson - 202-717-8080

• Theresa Spitzer - 202-717-8710

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