In a panel discussion, four leaders of the Society of Research Administrators discuss how the organization and the issues it addresses have evolved since publication of an article about it in 1988. Topics include whether the organization has lived up to its founders' ideals, the nature of the membership, comparisons with another research…

Discussions about appropriate methods for education research have escalated in the wake of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 and related changes to federal policies for educational research and its funding. This legislation highlights the importance of "scientifically-based research" and in particular foregrounds the use of…

This manual discusses major differences between academic and commercial educational research (CER) and provides suggestions to help researchers who want to conduct CER. The paper is based on the experiences of the TAFE National Center for Research and Development Ltd in Leabrook (Australia). Focus is on describing how to apply for grants and how…

The variables and management strategies influencing the job satisfaction of research scientists are examined. Emphasis is on defining satisfaction within the job context and the implications for managing the context to enhance satisfaction. (MSE)

The history of the debate over federal efforts to reduce indirect cost recovery in federal research grants to universities is outlined and discussed by a former university administrator involved in the policy's formation. (MSE)

A survey of the research administration community suggests great diversity of organizational arrangements, operational staff size, staff and administrator background, and task assignments. (MSE)

The role of two agricultural research administrators at two campuses of the University of Maryland system--College Park and Eastern Shore--in strategizing and implementing a process for interinstitutional planning and coordination in one major research program is discussed. (Author/MLW)

A discussion of the role of university-based organized research units reviews the major issues that confront such centers, describes results of a survey of 18 of the fastest growing research universities, and makes recommendations concerning appropriate management and the role of the centers within the research university. (Author/MSE)

A procedure for identifying performance indicators of university research attainment are presented, and definitional issues concerning these indicators are examined. The model, developed at the University of Western Australia, is seen as allowing for both diversity and comparability across the institution. It is stressed that an underlying…

This reprinted 1971 article reports on analysis of a 1968 survey of 221 research administrators in terms of organizational affiliation, duties and responsibilities, titles, and educational background. The paper argues that administration is like the doughnut hole, but research is the doughnut, and points out that research as an activity needs to…

The experience of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville suggests that encouraging research office staff to apply for grants can be a rewarding learning experience and can improve office visibility and credibility, staff confidence and professionalism, and staff sensitivity to faculty involved in grants development. (MSE)

A study explored the links between success in receiving federal funding and characteristics of research/sponsored programs offices at 46 state-supported higher education institutions. A linear predictive model indicated funding success could be predicted from the level of direct institutional commitment to research and grant-seeking efforts.…

Planning, creation, and current operation of the Transgenic Mouse Research Facility at the New York University Kaplan Cancer Center are discussed. The university considered need, space, funding, supervision, and marketing and followed a logical and structured management process embodying both scientific and administrative input. (Author/MSE)

A Society of Research Administrators national survey of research administrators gathered information on their organizational units, funding, professional, educational and personal characteristics, and areas of professional experience and involvement. Results are reported as compiled questionnaire response data and in the form of an administrator…

A new model for administration of institutional research in small colleges is proposed as an alternative to the traditional centralized program model. Application of the model for two years suggests that its decentralized but integrated approach responds well to the institution's internal and external research needs. (MSE)