Research evaluation in the U.S. Forest Service: Opinions of research managers

Abstract

One of the major challenges in forestry research evaluation is to insure that the evaluation methods developed meet the needs of forestry research managers. As a first step in indentifying these needs, we surveyed research managers in the USDA Forest Service. The amount of time spent on administrative activities affects the research evaluation needs of individuals. We found that Forest Service research managers spend the greatest amount of time managing and supervising personnel (32 percent of their administrative time) and planning research projects and programs (27 percent). Evaluation methods developed to date concentrate on the needs of high-level decision-makers and policymakers. Our survey respondents indicated that the interests of researchers are very important in determining the direction or content of Forest Service research programs. Thus, evaluation needs of researchers must receive more attention. Although the respondents did not strongly agree on the need for improved evaluation methods, more than one-third felt there is a critical need for more and better techniques to evaluate and disseminate research results.