The importance of documenting impact—A Washington perspective
M. A. DRAPER (1). (1) USDA-NIFA, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
In the past several years, Congress has increased their expectations for accountability. Reporting plays a critical role in future funding and the ability to advance the science agenda in the U.S. NIFA faces frequent inquiries from Congressional offices and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) about progress on projects, spending rates and duplicative funding. There are several strategies to follow that can help address the concerns. For example, ask yourself if you are keeping up your end of the contract. Do you report on a regular basis and by the deadline? Do you know the reporting deadlines? Do you spend your funds? Perhaps the most important factor is HOW and WHAT you report from your project. Often you will hear the terms impact and outcome thrown around randomly. These terms do not refer to results. Results are progress on a project. Think of impact as being more like conclusions. Results with value added. Even more than that, the impact addresses the most important question a policymaker might ask, “So what?” Recognizing that certain “So what” elements carry more weight than others is important. Economic and human health impacts carry considerable influence. Environmental impacts can also be valuable if reported in a way that speaks to the hearer. The outcomes we seek and the metrics we use, combined with our diligence will determine our success. The quality of our reporting is the one thing we can control about the perception of our research programs.
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