Findings now available from a Research Utilization Award

In early 2007, the RUSH project awarded five Research Utilization Awards (RUAs) to NIDRR grantees who proposed projects that promoted the use of their research findings in targeted, measurable ways among members of a specific audience. Among the RUA holders was Dr. Annmaria De Mars, in collaboration with Dr. Erich Longie, the President of Spirit Lake Consulting in Fort Totten, ND. Dr. De Mars' team had used previous NIDRR funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) mechanism to build a Web site on disability issues for Native American audiences. De Mars and Longie used RUA funding to develop a Web-based tutorial on Individual Education Plans (IEPs). They conducted workshops and general outreach publicizing the tool and teaching participants from seven reservations how to use it. This RUSH "Update" summarizes findings of De Mars' and Longie's final report of the efficacy of workshops as a research utilization strategy.

They also used RUA funding to do research on how best to disseminate information among Native Americans in their region, and their final report includes data from that study. More extensive background information about that research is available on the RUSH Web site, which hosts De Mars' final and interim reports, measures, the RUA proposal, and other related presentations.

The Workshops on the IEP Web Tool

The major goal of the RUA was to test the effectiveness of a time-limited, focused segment of training for Native Americans about Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Previous to the RUA, De Mars had used SBIR funds to demonstrate the effectiveness of a 2-day computer-integrated training course to increase the knowledge of disability interventions, best practices, and legal rights among residents of American Indian reservations. The RUA research used a 3-hour module focused on IEPs. De Mars and Longie recruited participants to the trainings through radio spots, news media, and flyers posted at the tribal administration building, grocery stores, and casinos. Directors of agencies serving people with disabilities also recruited participants. Most of the people who attended were women in their late 30s with about a high school education.

In total, seven trainings were given; however, two of the trainings were modified from the original intended format. One location requested a 90-minute presentation, so De Mars and Longie excluded two sections on IEP examples. Another site did not have computers, so this training was in lecture format. The fortunate outcome of these variances was that the researchers were able to compare three different types of trainings: 1) 3-hour computer-integrated trainings; 2) a 90-minute shortened IEP training; and 3) a face-to-face lecture training.

Participants in all trainings were given pre- and post-tests to assess their knowledge of IEPs. There were 81 individuals who attended the shortened workshop, 75 of whom completed either a pre-test or post-test; however, only 46 completed both the pre- and post-test. As less material was covered in the 90-minute workshop, Longie and De Mars gave them a shortened version of the IEP test.

Pre- and Post-Test Mean Scores by Group

Findings show that only the groups that received the 3-hour integrated trainings had statistically significant increases in their knowledge from pre- to post-test. De Mars and Longie conclude that 3-hour trainings, focused on a single subject, were more effective even though conducted over a much shorter period than the previous 2-day trainings.

Considering what De Mars and Longie learned from the information use survey—that Native Americans often use various electronic media—computer-integrated training can be recommended as a means of increasing parental knowledge of IEPs and the IEP process among Native Americans at least in this region.

Dissemination Activities

De Mars and Longie engaged in other dissemination to target other researchers, service providers, and members of the Native American public. The researchers presented at three tribal conferences, and distributed copies of the Disability Access CD-ROM. The researchers also demonstrated the Web-based tool for staff members and consumers from tribal vocational projects. NIDRR grantees specifically were invited to participate in a webcast on this RUA that the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR) facilitated. De Mars and Longie suggest that a good barometer of the impact of these dissemination efforts is found in the increased volume of visits to their Web site. During this year of RUA funding, monthly visits to their Web site went from an average of 2,700 per month to a height in October 2007 of 29,963, a gain of 1,110%.

Contact us

We encourage you to contact RUSH at 1-800-761-7874 or 512-476-6861 or by email rush@sedl.org with any question about the content of this update or research utilization in general.