2005 SSO:USA Member Surveys Malcolm Cutchin, PhD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

22005 SSO:USA Research Conference Introduction Collaborative effort of Research Ctte, Communications Ctte and Board Collaborative effort of Research Ctte, Communications Ctte and Board Goal was to obtain and assess cross- sectional data from members to shape activities and direction of SSO:USA Goal was to obtain and assess cross- sectional data from members to shape activities and direction of SSO:USA This is a brief synopsis of what we did and what we learned This is a brief synopsis of what we did and what we learned

32005 SSO:USA Research Conference Background SSO:USA strategic plan includes survey SSO:USA strategic plan includes survey Learning about issues beyond annual conference evaluation was goal Learning about issues beyond annual conference evaluation was goal Information deemed important for board decision-making and responsiveness to membership Information deemed important for board decision-making and responsiveness to membership

42005 SSO:USA Research Conference Methods Areas investigated Areas investigated Conference, Research, Communications, Vision, Direction, Member Benefits Conference, Research, Communications, Vision, Direction, Member Benefits Research committee drafted survey with input from board Research committee drafted survey with input from board Board provided feedback; revisions made Board provided feedback; revisions made Survey split into two parts Survey split into two parts Communications committee chair (Bilics) piloted and implemented via the web Communications committee chair (Bilics) piloted and implemented via the web

52005 SSO:USA Research Conference Methods Domains covered in each survey: Domains covered in each survey: Survey 1: Conference, Research, Communications Survey 1: Conference, Research, Communications Survey 2: Vision, Direction, Member Benefits Survey 2: Vision, Direction, Member Benefits Quantitative and qualitative data collected in each Quantitative and qualitative data collected in each 103 past and current members invited to take survey (93% of respondents are current) 103 past and current members invited to take survey (93% of respondents are current) Response rates = 56% and 53% Response rates = 56% and 53%

62005 SSO:USA Research Conference Survey 1: Conference, Research, Communications

72005 SSO:USA Research Conference Survey on Conference, Research, and Communication Issues Items Rated Most Important (1=unimportant, 5=very important) N = 58 Conference Qualities and Logistics Mean Make available adequate opportunities for networking provided at the annual conference 4.37 Conference location within 45 minutes of the closest airport 4.30 Conference lodging and registration costs kept, all things being equal, as low as possible 4.12 Create a community of scholars in the non-session events at the annual conference 4.09 Continue implementation of panel sessions at the annual research conference 3.93 Continue implementation of forum sessions again at the 2005 research conference 3.91

82005 SSO:USA Research Conference Survey on Conference, Research, and Communication Issues Items Rated Most Important (1=unimportant, 5=very important) N = 58 Research Activities and Information Mean Receiving periodic information about relevant funding opportunities 4.28 Receiving periodic information about research being conducted by other SSO members 4.24 Receiving periodic information about relevant publications outside OT and OS 4.23 Having the ability to subscribe to JOS through your SSO:USA membership 4.14 Receiving periodic information about relevant meetings of other organizations 4.05

92005 SSO:USA Research Conference Survey on Conference, Research, and Communication Issues Items Rated Most Important (1=unimportant, 5=very important) N = 58 Website and Electronic Communication Mean Accessing information about SSO:USA on the website 4.37 Receiving information via about SSO:USA at least 4x per year 3.97 Voting electronically for officers and board members 3.95 Participating in an annual survey so SSO:USA can be more responsive to membership needs and wants 3.93

SSO:USA Research Conference What conferences other than this one and AOTA are attended by our members? Qualitative responses Qualitative responses 27 of the 42 valid responses include a meeting/conference other than any OT/OS 27 of the 42 valid responses include a meeting/conference other than any OT/OS Many of the other meetings/conferences were interdisciplinary in nature Many of the other meetings/conferences were interdisciplinary in nature A relatively large subset of occupational scientists engage with members of other disciplines at other meetings A relatively large subset of occupational scientists engage with members of other disciplines at other meetings

SSO:USA Research Conference What journals outside of OT and OS do SSO:USA members read? Qualitative responses Qualitative responses Many members (39) reported reading more than 1 journal outside of OT/OS Many members (39) reported reading more than 1 journal outside of OT/OS Many of those (28) read multiple journals from different disciplines Many of those (28) read multiple journals from different disciplines A large subset of members draw information from many fields (medicine, social sciences…) A large subset of members draw information from many fields (medicine, social sciences…)

SSO:USA Research Conference Survey 2: Vision, Direction, Member Benefits

SSO:USA Research Conference Top direction issues (scores = sum of products, reverse rank*frequency) Rank ordering of ideas about direction of SSO:USA. SSO:USA should… Score Work to increase awareness of SSO:USA among OT scholars involved in the study of occupation 278 Make efforts to increase interdisciplinary membership and participation 256 Invite OT or OS researchers involved in the study of occupation as keynote speakers at the annual research conference 254 Work to increase awareness of SSO:USA among non-OT scholars involved in the study of occupation 249 Work to strengthen the relationship between occupational science and occupational therapy 247

SSO:USA Research Conference Top member benefits issues (scores = sum of products, reverse rank*frequency) Rank ordering of ideas about member benefits. SSO:USA should… Score Allow members to attend the annual research conference at a reduced rate 296 Advocate for venues of publication and presentation of research on occupation beyond the SSO:USA annual meeting 295 Use available funds to create long-term investments to support future activities 283 Use income from a discount on the Journal of Occupational Science subscriptions for operational needs as opposed to being returned to members as a benefit 261 Provide members to opportunity to attend the SSO:USA annual research conference in the USA every year 250 Provide a reduced rate of 10% (approx $6) for subscription to the Journal of Occupational Science 246 Have a SSO:USA conference in Fall 2006 in addition to the International Society of Occupational Science one day conference (and WFOT) in Sidney Australia in July

SSO:USA Research Conference Focusing SSO:USA development toward more non-OT disciplines and what effects that might have for the organization and OS (open-ended item) Strong support, and of 42 responses, only 3 stated this was not important to them Strong support, and of 42 responses, only 3 stated this was not important to them Advantages suggested in terms of cross- fertilization, enrichment, etc. Advantages suggested in terms of cross- fertilization, enrichment, etc. Although not always stated, the word choices of many responses indicated a perception that this was not happening now Although not always stated, the word choices of many responses indicated a perception that this was not happening now Some wrote of “becoming more open,” or “welcoming in,” or “reaching out to” Some wrote of “becoming more open,” or “welcoming in,” or “reaching out to”

SSO:USA Research Conference Focusing SSO:USA development toward more OT- oriented efforts and what effects at might have for the organization and OS (open-ended item) 20 of 42 responses saw this as undesirable although responses were nuanced 20 of 42 responses saw this as undesirable although responses were nuanced An often mentioned concern is that OT needs OS, and to strengthen SSO:USA ties to OT benefits OT practice An often mentioned concern is that OT needs OS, and to strengthen SSO:USA ties to OT benefits OT practice For those opposed to focusing on OT- oriented efforts, there was concern that it would insulate occupational science from what is going on in other fields For those opposed to focusing on OT- oriented efforts, there was concern that it would insulate occupational science from what is going on in other fields

SSO:USA Research Conference Qualitative Summary Putting these 2 groups of responses together… Putting these 2 groups of responses together… There seems to be a strong sense that occupational therapy needs the research that SSO: USA promotes There seems to be a strong sense that occupational therapy needs the research that SSO: USA promotes But the survival of SSO: USA might be threatened if the society does not attend to developing its non-OT base. But the survival of SSO: USA might be threatened if the society does not attend to developing its non-OT base.

SSO:USA Research Conference Conclusions Limitations to survey data (response rate) Limitations to survey data (response rate) Members want information about research via SSO:USA (web site) Members want information about research via SSO:USA (web site) Members want surplus funds to be used for long-term organization goals Members want surplus funds to be used for long-term organization goals Some ambivalence about SSO:USA vis-à-vis OT and other academic disciplines Some ambivalence about SSO:USA vis-à-vis OT and other academic disciplines Evidence tends toward the non-OT orientation as more important goal Evidence tends toward the non-OT orientation as more important goal

SSO:USA Research Conference Conclusions Surveys not comprehensive, but provide some evidence of members’ views Surveys not comprehensive, but provide some evidence of members’ views Future SSO:USA boards and committees should use this information Future SSO:USA boards and committees should use this information Periodic re-survey needed using some of same items Periodic re-survey needed using some of same items Covering new ground in future surveys also worthy Covering new ground in future surveys also worthy