Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
according to the Framework scale, a score of 4 should be assigned if the research
is in high-priority subject areas and is adequately connected to improvements in
workplace protection, and the program is engaged in transfer activities. The com-
mittee concluded that some, but not all, research in the AFF Program has been in
high-priority subject areas, and that the program has somewhat been engaged in
transfer activities, but not always the most appropriate. In contrast, assigning a
score of 3 would indicate that the research focuses on lesser priorities and is not
significantly involved in transfer activities, and this also was not entirely accurate
for the AFF Program. Had the committee been given the option of providing
non-integer scores, the score for program relevance most likely would have been
between 3 and 4.
To arrive at a single integer score for relevance, the committee examined sepa-
rately the two main components of the relevance score: the priority of research
and the level of engagement in transfer activities. For the former, the committee
concluded that although not all research activities of the AFF Program fulfilled all
the qualifications of a 4, it more often than not met the standard for engaging in high-
priority research. In assessing the program's level of engagement in transfer activi-
ties, the committee focused on the applicability of transfer activities and concluded
that the AFF Program was engaged in transfer activities and at least some transfer
activities took place in appropriate areas. The committee therefore concluded that
a score of 4 for relevance was more appropriate for the program overall.
Score for Impact
On the basis of the Framework Document's scoring criteria for program im-
pact (Box 10-2), the committee assigned the AFF Program a score of 3 out of a
possible high score of 5.
DISCUSSION OF RATINGS FOR RELEVANCE AND IMPACT
As it thought about the relevance and impact of the AFF Program, the com-
mittee was influenced by general aspects of the program that contributed to its
successes, some of which are described below. Further discussion of the conclu-
sions that led to the committee's scores for relevance and impact, respectively, are
described in subsequent sections of this chapter.
Breadth of the Program
Resources have been inadequate for the AFF Program to carry out its con-
gressional mandate in the area of agriculture, let alone in the additional areas of
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