NIH issues RFI on user experience with scientific data sources and tools

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Portfolio Analysis (OPA) has issued a request for information (RFI) to seek input from the scientific community to advance the fundamental understanding of experiences in using scientific data sources and tools. Feedback is requested by October 15.

Information is being sought on the community's experience using scientific data sources and tools that may include, but are not limited to: iCite, PubMed, NIH RePORTER, Google Scholar, Grants.gov, ClinicalTrials.gov, USAspending.gov, FDA Orange Book, USPTO.gov, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Flybase, Dimensions

OPA seeks the following information:

o Tell us about your experience with the way you access information about Biomedical topics. This could include reading articles, attending lectures, or watching related videos.

o Tell us about your experience and frequency of use of existing web tools or research databases (e.g., PubMed - every day, Google Scholar - every week, USAspending.gov - once a month, etc.).

o Please provide input on your intended purpose in using these tools (focused searches on a particular topic, explore content more broadly, or both?).

o Tell us about your experience with the functionalities, including unique functionalities, that you find to be most effective or useful, as well as functionalities that would improve one or more of the tools you use.

o Tell us about your experience with the tools you use to access productivity metrics (e.g., those used to measure productivity of individuals and/or groups), including ways these assessments and tools are limited, as well as potential opportunities or enhancements for these tools to facilitate measurement of productivity.

The full text of the RFI and instructions to respond are here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-182.html