Appendix B: Data Sources for Instrument 1

Source of Post-RECS Data Collection Survey Questions

Post-RECS Data Collection Survey Questions

Source

1. Did you attend any part of RECS 2024 (in person or virtually)?

• Yes

• No

Internally developed

2. Was RECS 2024 your first-time attending RECS? (select one)

• Yes

• No

Internally developed

3. Which of the following best represents how you attended RECS 2024? (select one)

• In-person only

• Mostly in-person and some virtual

• About half in-person and half virtual

• Some in-person and mostly virtual

• Virtual only

Internally developed

4. How many sessions did you participate in the conference? (select one)

• One session

• Less than half of the sessions

• Half the sessions

• More than half of the sessions

• Most/All sessions

Internally developed

5. Which of the following indicates your main goal(s) for attending RECS 2024? (select all that apply)

• Learn about human services programs

• Learn about policy relevant to human services programs

• Learn about research methods

• Learn about the latest research findings

• Learn about the implications of research to apply them in my own work

• Learn about tools (e.g., research clearinghouse, guides, datasets) I can use in my own work

• Gather knowledge to share with others

• Network with other attendees

• Participate as a speaker

• Other: [please specify]

Internally developed

6. Which of the following topic areas were you most interested in learning about at RECS 2024? (select all that apply)

• TANF Programs, Policies, and Populations

• Employment and Mobility in the Labor Market

• Youth Well-Being and the Transition to Adulthood

• Strengthening Families, Fatherhood, Marriages, and Relationships

• Evaluating Social Programs, Building Evidence, and Using Data

• Approaches to Alleviate Poverty and Expand Opportunity

• Other: [please specify]

Internally developed

7. Which of the following tools and resources did you use during the conference to capture information shared at RECS? (select all that apply)

• Electronic notes on my own device (e.g., laptop, tablet, phone)

• Handwritten notes in the printed program book offered at RECS

• Handwritten notes using my own materials (e.g., notebook)

• Notetaking feature in the conference app

• Print materials distributed at RECS (other than the program book)

• Slides available through the conference app

• Other: [please specify]

• None of these

Internally developed

8. How did you access information shared at RECS after the conference? (select all that apply)

• Electronic notes on my own device (e.g., laptop, tablet, phone)

• Handwritten notes in the printed program book offered at RECS

• Handwritten notes using my own materials (e.g., notebook)

• Notetaking feature in the conference app

• Print materials distributed at RECS (other than the program book)

• Slides available through the conference app

• Other: [please specify]

• None of these

Internally developed

9. Considering this RECS 2024 sessions you attended, can you think of an example of how the information shared in those sessions:

	YES	NO
Changed the way you look at problems facing your organization or the people your organization serves?	☐	☐
Expanded your understanding of an issue?	☐	☐
Suggested alternative solutions to a problem encountered by either your organization or by the people your organization serves?	☐	☐
Brought attention to an issue your organization or the people your organization serves have not yet faced?	☐	☐
Provided a framework for structuring improvement efforts (e.g., for a program, research study, policy implementation, evaluation)?	☐	☐
Provided a common language and set of ideas for you and your colleagues?	☐	☐
Helped you to develop or strengthen a professional relationship?	☐	☐
Increased your ability to share knowledge with others on an issue(s)?	☐	☐

Adapted survey item 13 from the Survey of Practitioners' Use of Research (SPUR) - Survey Instrument (last two items internally developed)

10. For each activity listed below, please indicate whether your role involves the following activities.

	In my current role, I am involved with:	In my current role, I am NOT involved with:
Conducting or overseeing research or evaluation projects	☐	☐
Developing a new program or policy	☐	☐
Making decisions about whether to adopt a program or policy	☐	☐
Implementing a program or policy	☐	☐
Scaling up a program	☐	☐
Redesigning an existing program	☐	☐
Designing professional development for staff	☐	☐
Making decisions about whether to eliminate a program or policy	☐	☐
Directing new or additional resources (funds or people) to a particular program	☐	☐
Directing new or additional resources (funds or people) to a particular research priority or study	☐	☐

Adapted survey item 1 from the Survey of Practitioners' Use of Research (SPUR) - Survey Instrument

11. [For items that participants selected “In my current role, I am involved with:” for item 10, participants will be asked:] In the previous question, you indicated that you are involved with the activities listed below. Please indicate whether you do or would use the information you learned at RECS 2024 for the following activities.

	I use the information I learned at RECS 2024 to:	I will use the information I learned at RECS 2024 to:	I do NOT and will NOT use the information I learned at RECS 2024 to:
Conducting or overseeing research or evaluation projects	☐	☐	☐
Developing a new program or policy	☐	☐	☐
Making decisions about whether to adopt a program or policy	☐	☐	☐
Implementing a program or policy	☐	☐	☐
Scaling up a program	☐	☐	☐
Redesigning an existing program	☐	☐	☐
Designing professional development for staff	☐	☐	☐
Making decisions about whether to eliminate a program or policy	☐	☐	☐
Directing new or additional resources (funds or people) to a particular program	☐	☐	☐
Directing new or additional resources (funds or people) to a particular research priority or study	☐	☐	☐

Adapted survey item 1 from the Survey of Practitioners' Use of Research (SPUR) - Survey Instrument

12. Please use the space below to share any other areas of your work in which you do or plan to use the information you learned at RECS: (Optional Question)

Internally developed

13. What is one example of something you learned at RECS and how that knowledge influenced your understanding or informed a specific decision? (Optional Question)

Internally developed

14. What changes would you suggest to RECS to make it easier to retain and use the information presented? (Optional Question)

Internally developed

15. What is your professional affiliation? (Please check all that apply)

• Federal Government

• State or Local Government

• Research Firm or Institution

• Practitioner/Service Provider

• Non-Profit Organization

• Philanthropy/Foundation

• University

• Lived Experience/Expertise

• Other: [please specify]

Adapted from the RECS registration form

16. What is your total number of years of work experience (in any professional field or role)?

• Less than 1 year of work experience

• 1-2 years

• 3-5 years

• 6-10 years

• 11-20 years

Adapted from the RECS registration form

16. What is your highest level of education completed?

• Some high school

• High school diploma/GED

• Some college

• Associate’s degree

• Bachelor’s degree

• Master’s degree

• Doctoral degree

• Other: [please specify]

• Prefer not to say

Adapted from the RECS registration form