Research Areas

Studies

 

Examples of projects that may contain elements of research and/or evaluation and classified as studies are as follows:

Continuous Improvement Initiative - Apprenticeship (USDOL/ETA):  Coffey conducted research on continuous improvement of apprenticeship programs and the apprenticeship system to develop a strategy that was presented to stakeholders in focus groups for buy-in.  Observed and compared policies, practices and procedures to determine if they could be considered as promising or best practices.  Researched the various methods of quality measurement and continuous improvement efforts used in apprenticeship throughout the nation; conducted site visits to six registered apprenticeship programs; developed a continuous improvement strategy; arranged and managed focus groups with stakeholders of the apprenticeship system; and presented results of the research as part of a Final Report. One detailed and one summary program assessment were developed and made available to many apprenticeship programs.

Labor Market and Labor Market Research in the Future (USDOL/ETA):  Led an effort in reviewing contemporary labor market practices; conducting research; analyzing and synthesizing the data and information; and producing a Labor Exchange/Labor Market Trend Research Framework.  This project supported other efforts designed to make the Workforce Investment System and its One-Stop delivery approach work as mandated by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

The 1996 National Education Summit:  Implications for Workforce Development (USDOL/ETA):  In 1989-90, the U.S. Department of Labor took a step toward expanding national awareness of the fundamental interconnectedness of education reform and workforce development by establishing the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS).  The National Education Summit exemplified the weaving of a single broad strand of concern in which high academic quality and high economic performance were no longer separable.  DOL initiatives are supporting many kinds of grassroots experimentation such as new curricula and school-to-work linkages, industry-led efforts to develop job-specific standards of excellence, new One-Stop employment centers, and their O*NET information system.  This project involved preparing for publication the DOL document titled The 1996 Education Summit:  Implications for Workforce Development which was written to examine the implications of the Summit.  The study highlighted the importance to employers of demonstrating program quality through a system of skill standards and employers’ value.  Input and clarification on ways which employer-defined standards and quality can be further incorporated in DOL initiatives to provide program participants with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform in the new knowledge-based economy and meet the demands of current employers was completed by discussions with various people within DOL initiatives such as America’s Job Bank, Dislocated Worker Program, Job Corps, O*NET, One-Stop Career Centers and ALMIS.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments - Longitudinal Household Travel Study.  Served as a subcontractor to Westat in the Montgomery County, Maryland study which required each member of the family to track the transportation they used for a week; type of transportation and when and where traveled.  The study consisted of mailing the survey response forms to willing participants; calling to remind participants of their “travel week;” making follow-up calls to ask survey questions and providing all information to the prime.  Provided staff with excellent communications and telephone skills who conducted initial telephone interviews to review the household study steps to be taken by participants; mailed surveys, made reminder telephone calls, and answered questions; conducted telephone interviews; recorded telephone interview data, and compiled and provided reports delivered to prime on a daily basis.