Research Utilization Support and Help (RUSH) Project Abstract

Principal Investigator: John Westbrook, PhD
P. I. Phone: 512/476-6861
Project Number: H133A031402
Start Date: June 1, 2003
Length: 60 months
NIDRR Officer: Cate Miller, PhD

Abstract: The RUSH project develops and tests models for increasing the effective use of NIDRR research results. The RUSH Project intends to assess utilization successes in terms of benefits produced for intended user audiences including: people with disabilities and their families, disability researchers, and disability service providers, among others. The goal is to expand awareness, strategies, and evaluation of knowledge utilization outcomes among NIDRR-supported researchers in order to increase access and use of research results by those who can benefit the most from them. The objectives for the RUSH Project are: (1) to assess the use of and obstacles to the dissemination/utilization of NIDRR-supported disability research by a wide range of potential target audiences; (2) to develop a variety of strategies and approaches designed to accommodate differing topics of disability research information and diverse target audiences; (3) to demonstrate a variety of new strategies and approaches to improve/achieve utilization outcomes of disability research findings; (4) to disseminate information about knowledge utilization models and their associated effectiveness by topic, target audience, and level of knowledge transfer needed in order to increase the use of NIDRR grantees' research outcomes; (5) to provide new and current NIDRR researchers with information they can use to strengthen their dissemination and utilization approaches; and (6) to provide technical assistance to NIDRR researchers to build understanding, skills, and resources in developing, implementing, and evaluating knowledge utilization models within NIDRR project designs.

Descriptors: Dissemination; Utilization; Information resources.