Qualitatively Valuing Research for Transportation Agencies: A Guide

Research in the transportation sector traditionally emphasizes the quantifiable benefits of projects, but there is a growing recognition among transportation professionals that the scope of research impacts extends beyond conventional numerical measures to qualitative benefits. However, it can be challenging to translate qualitative outcomes into simple, digestible figures or statistics, so the complete value of research to stakeholders may be obscure. Having a guide for conveying both the direct and the ancillary value of research and identifying, valuing, and communicating broader narratives would help explain a research project’s contribution to the transportation agency, the wider research community, and the public. The guide would be a valuable research management tool to foster innovation by supporting research that does not necessarily have quantifiable benefits. The objective of this project is to develop a guide on qualitative approaches to identifying, valuing, and communicating research project benefits. The guide should cover the breadth of operations across a transportation agency and all phases of a research project lifecycle, including implementation.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5688
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a performing organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $325,000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-131

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Jared, David

• Start Date: 20241209
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Communication; Guides to information; Research; Research management; Transportation departments; Valuation
• Subject Areas: Research; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01919346
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-131
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 22 2024 11:52AM