Research Administration Form Use Survey
Survey Purpose
Research Administrators spend a lot of time filling out, developing and collecting forms. Forms in research administration run the gamut from big, bad and ugly to beautiful and highly functional. They can seem like a burden, but in fact they are an important communication tool and part of a research administrator’s work.
The purpose of the Research Administration Form Use Survey was to survey the research community to identify common themes, attitudes, and methods regarding the use of forms and industry standards for types of forms and methods of completion and collection. Based on the responses, insights that result in real improvements to forms can be provided.
Survey
In February 2019, Jessica Rowell, Proposal Development Manager, and Alexa Van Dalsem, Senior Manager – Proposal Development, in the Office of Contracts and Grants, distributed a survey to national research administration listservs. The response was outstanding, supporting the idea that forms are an important topic and in need of a deep dive. A total of 110 completed surveys and 31 partially completed surveys were received from 59 institutions of all types, small and large, private and public, hospitals, universities, and private companies with a range of needs, system modernization, capabilities and resources. Respondents also had a variety of roles in research administration, with the majority being departmental and central research administration staff.
Results and Products
This webpage provides links to the results and products resulting from the form survey.
"Make Forms CLEAN," Poster presented at SRAI Annual Meeting, October 2019, Winner of People's Choice Award
"Making Forms CLEAN: A Survey of Research Administrators about Forms" (article in review)