Form 1 Questionnaire for the K Program Participants

Form Approved
OMB No. 0935-0106
Exp. Date XX/XX/20XX

Questionnaire for the K Program Participants

Your responses will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law, including AHRQ’s confidentiality statute, 42 USC 299c-3(c).

SECTION 1: SATISFACTION WITH THE APPLICATION AND GRANT MANAGEMENT PROCESS

1. How satisfied were you with the following aspects of the application process? Select one answer per row.

	Not applicable	Very dissatisfied  (Go to 1A)	Dissatisfied  (Go to 1A)	Neutral	Satisfied	Very Satisfied
Obtaining information about the program
Clarity of program goals
Instructions for preparing application
Reviewer feedback
Assistance from AHRQ during the application process
Mentor-matching process
Assistance from AHRQ during participation

1A. If you were dissatisfied with one or more of the above, please indicate the item(s) and explain why:

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SECTION 2: PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCE AND CAREER PLANS

2. Which of the following knowledge and skills have you acquired or improved while you were funded by the AHRQ K Award? Select all that apply.¹

	Acquired knowledge/skills	Improved knowledge/skills
Scientific knowledge
Gaining knowledge about my area of study
Using analytical approaches to define scientific questions
Designing appropriate studies to test scientific hypotheses
Interpreting and analyzing data
Other: __________________
Research Skills
Implementing experimental design/protocols
Carrying out data analysis and interpretation
Applying effective literature search strategies and critical evaluation of the scientific literature
Understanding principles of peer review process
Other:__________________
Communications Skills
Developing publications
Developing grant proposals
Developing career-related documents (e.g. CVs, biosketches, research plans)
Presenting research
Interviewing for jobs
Teaching
Networking
Interacting with patients and other human objects
Other: __________________
Leadership and Management Skills
Creating a vision and setting goals
Running meetings
Delegating responsibilities
Motivating and inspiring others
Mentoring and serving as a role model
Working with individuals of diverse gender, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds
Managing and resolving conflicts
Other: __________________

3. What were your short-term goals when you applied to this program? Select all that apply.²

• Gain scientific knowledge

• Develop or improve research skills

• Develop or improve communication skills

• Develop or improve leadership and management skills

• Gain guidance and mentoring

• Author publications and presentations

• Other, please explain:___________________

4. What were your long-term goals when you applied to this program? Select all that apply.³

• Advance my field of study

• Maintain position within academia

• Obtain independent research position

• Obtain follow-up funding support

• Improve the quality of patient care

• Other, please explain:___________________

5. To what extent were you able to achieve the short-term and long-term goals that you set? Select one.¹

	Short-term goals	Long-term goals
Not at all
Somewhat
Mostly
Completely
Exceeded all goals

6. What is your level of satisfaction with the mentoring that you received during your K Award? Select one.

• Very dissatisfied  (Go to 6A)

• Dissatisfied  (Go to 6A)

• Neutral

• Satisfied

• Very satisfied

• N/A

6A. If you were dissatisfied with your mentor(s), please explain why you were dissatisfied and how your mentor(s) could have been more helpful to you.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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7. In which of the following aspects of your training experience did you receive adequate help and mentoring? Select all that apply.

• Generating project ideas

• Designing an approach

• Implementing the approach

• Analyzing the data

• Developing publications

• Developing presentation skills

• Assistance with job searches

• Connecting you with other researchers

• Educating you in areas beyond your immediate projects

• Other ____________________

8. How likely are you to continue in a research career in the next five years? Select one.³

• I am no longer in a research career  (Go to 8A)

• Very unlikely  (Go to 8B)

• Somewhat unlikely  (Go to 8B)

• Unsure  (Go to 8B)

• Somewhat likely

• Very likely

8A. Why did you leave your research career?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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8B. You indicated that you are _______________________________ [option selected] to continue in a research career. Why?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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9. How likely are you to apply for another research grant or contract? Select one.

• Very unlikely  (Go to 9A)

• Somewhat unlikely  (Go to 9A)

• Unsure  (Go to 9A)

• Somewhat likely (Go to 10 and 11)

• Very likely (Go to 10 and 11)

9A. You indicated that you are _______________________________ [option selected] to apply for additional funding. Why?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

10. For which of the following research grants or contract are you likely to apply?

• Independent Research grant (e.g., R01, R03, etc.)

• Research Programs Projects and Center Grants (e.g., P)

• Training grant (e.g., K, T)

• Cooperative agreement (e.g., U)

• Contract

• Other ________________

11. What type of funding source administers the grant or contract opportunity you intend to pursue?

• Federal Government

• State or Local Government

• University

• Foundation

• Industry

• Other ________________

12. Which of the following challenges have you experienced since receiving the AHRQ K Award in establishing or maintaining your research career? Select all that apply.⁴

	Previously Experienced	Currently Experiencing
Obtaining continued funding to support your research
Finding a suitable position that matches your interests and facilitates continued professional growth
Establishing collaborative relationships with other researchers in your field
Finding/connecting with good mentors
Recruiting talented students/postdocs to your research group
Balancing research and clinical duties
Balancing research and teaching responsibilities
Balancing research and administrative duties
Balancing work and family responsibilities
Accommodating your spouse’s or partner’s career
Inadequate pay
Self-doubts about your ability to succeed in a research career
Loss of interest in or motivation for a research career
None
Other: __________________

SECTION 3: THE IMPACT OF THE AHRQ K AWARD ON YOUR CAREER

13. What has been the most important contribution of the AHRQ K Award to your career? Please describe.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

14. How valuable has the AHRQ K Award been in your career success? Select one.

• Too early to tell

• Not at all valuable

• Somewhat valuable  (Go to 15A)

• Very valuable  (Go to 15A)

14A. Do you attribute achieving any of the following career landmarks to your receipt of the AHRQ K Award? Select all that apply.

Career Indicator	K Award Contribution
Attainment of a faculty position
Receipt of tenure
Increased salary
Receipt of additional research funding
Publication of peer reviewed articles and/or books
Establishment of an independent health services research program
Employment of additional researchers and support staff
Receipt of professional honors or distinctions
Service on editorial boards, peer review panels, advisory councils
Appointment as department/division chair, dean, provost, president, or other leadership position
Appointment as mentor to other researchers

15. Which of the following best describes current your work? Select all that apply.

• I am still participating in the K program

• Research

• Clinical

• Teaching

• Administration

• Other _______________

16. How would you describe your primary workplace environment? Select all that apply.

• Academia

• Clinical Practice

• Private Industry

• Professional Society

• Federal Government

• State or Local Government

• Other _______________

17. How would you describe your secondary workplace environment? Select all that apply.

• Academia

• Clinical Practice

• Private Industry

• Professional Society

• Federal Government

• State or Local Government

• Other _______________

• N/A

18. To what extent has your K grant experience enabled you to apply your health services research expertise within an inter- or multi-disciplinary environment?

• Not at all

• To some extent

• To a considerable extent

19. With what other disciplines have you collaborated during your post K award career?   Please list up to 3 disciplines.

_____________________________________________________________________

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20. Do you think the AHRQ K Award has enabled you to achieve or contribute to any of the following? Select all that apply.⁵

Area	K Award Contribution
RESEARCH
Advancement of your field
Influence on another field
POLICY
Contributions to a systematic review
Contributions to clinical, educational, or other guidelines or standards
Contributions to laws or policies
Contributions to government reports
Development of factsheets, newsletters or other educational materials
Provision of expert testimony
PRACTICE
Development and testing of new or improved tools, devices, tests, measures, services, or screening approaches to identify, confirm, treat, or manage disease or disability
SYSTEM CAPACITY
Adoption of new or improved delivery methods for care or services
Reduction in the cost of care or services

21. What would you consider your most important contribution to health services research, health care-related policy, practice, or system capacity to date? Please describe.

_____________________________________________________________________

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For items 22 through 25, please refer to the following scale:

0% 50% 100%

Not At All Valuable Neutral Extremely Valuable

22. What percentage would you assign to reflect the value to your research skills development of having been awarded an AHRQ K grant award? __________%

23. What percentage would you assign to reflect the value to your career progression of having been awarded an AHRQ K grant award? __________%

24. What percentage would you assign to reflect the value to your professional growth of having been awarded an AHRQ K grant award? __________%

25. Overall, what percentage would you assign to the value of having received the AHRQ K grant award? __________%

SECTION 4: CONCLUDING QUESTIONS

26. Is there anything else you would like to convey to AHRQ about your K program participation or its effects on your career?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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27. Based on your experiences with the K Award, do you have any suggestions, comments, or criticisms to offer about both the strengths and weaknesses of the K Award program? (Your advice will be greatly valued.)

_____________________________________________________________________

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1 Core competencies of a successful scientist. Developed by the National Postdoctoral Association. http://www.fhcrc.org/en/education-training/oscd/core-competencies.html

2 This question was asked in the survey of the NIH Diversity Supplement Program participants.

3 This question was asked in the survey of the NIH Diversity Supplement Program participants.

4 This question was adapted from a survey of participants in the NIH Loan Repayment Program

5 This question was adapted from a survey to evaluate the research program at the Department of Education

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, the estimated time required to complete the survey. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: AHRQ Reports Clearance Officer Attention: PRA, Paperwork Reduction Project (0935-0106) AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Room # 5036, Rockville, MD 20850.