Charting the Impact of Federal Spending for Education Research: The Case of the National Science Foundation’s Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering Program

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Division L Section 7 Poster Session

Abstract

Impact evaluation plays a critical role in determining whether federally funded research programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are wise investments. In this paper, we use conventional, replicable metrics to evaluate academic impacts of a National Science Foundation-funded STEM research program, “Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering” (REESE). Preliminary analyses of PI research output, quality, and capacity before and after receiving a REESE award suggest that this flagship NSF program either attracts highly productive investigators or makes at least some investigators with REESE funding that much more productive. Limitations of the analyses are discussed and directions are provided for the future of impact evaluations of research programs that are intended to serve the public good.

Authors

• Carolina Milesi, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Eric Hedberg, University of Chicago

• Kevin L. Brown, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Barbara Schneider, Michigan State University