Methodological Research to Support National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity supports methodological research to strengthen how the federal government produces national estimates of children's exposure to violence. It focuses on evaluating how the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) has been conducted in recent administrations and developing practical, evidence-based recommendations to improve survey design, data quality, and usefulness for national reporting and trend analysis.

Is this grant for running a full nationwide NatSCEV survey?

No. The project is centered on methodological research and testing, not fielding a full national data collection. The work is aimed at reviewing prior approaches, analyzing existing NatSCEV data, testing improvements, and producing recommendations and cost estimates for future administrations.

Which agencies are offering and partnering on this grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

What is the project trying to improve about NatSCEV?

The project targets core building blocks of the survey, including survey content and instrument questions, development of the sample frame, the sampling plan needed for reliable national estimates, and the most appropriate modes of data collection (such as phone, web, mixed-mode, or other designs). It also emphasizes strategies to reduce non-response bias and examines reference periods that support credible trend analysis over time.

What kinds of methodological areas does the solicitation highlight?

The solicitation highlights multiple areas for evaluation and improvement, including:

• What questions and content should be included in the survey instrument
• How the sample frame should be developed
• What sampling plan best supports reliable national estimates
• Which data collection modes are most appropriate (phone, web, mixed-mode, or other designs)
• How to reduce non-response bias
• How to select reference periods that support trend analysis
• Whether the survey can reliably produce estimates for key subgroups without sacrificing statistical validity

Why is non-response bias a major emphasis in this project?

Non-response can distort survey estimates when certain groups are underrepresented. The solicitation places major emphasis on developing strategies to reduce non-response bias so that national estimates are more representative and defensible.

What does the grant mean by "reference periods" and why do they matter?

Reference periods refer to the timeframe respondents are asked to consider when answering questions. The opportunity calls for attention to reference periods that support credible trend analysis, meaning survey results can be compared over time in a way that reflects real changes rather than differences caused by shifting measurement choices.

Does the project address reporting for specific populations or subgroups?

Yes. The solicitation calls for assessing whether NatSCEV can reliably produce estimates for key subgroups (for example, different age groups, demographic groups, or other policy-relevant populations) without undermining statistical validity.

What are the major activities or phases expected under this project?

The work is described as a sequence of research and testing tasks, including:

1. Reviewing approaches used in prior NatSCEV data collections and documenting what was done, what worked, and what limitations occurred
2. Analyzing existing data from previous NatSCEV administrations to examine measurement performance, missingness patterns, possible mode effects, and indicators of data quality and representativeness
3. Designing alternative strategies and methodologies to improve future NatSCEV utility (potentially changing sampling, questionnaire design, contact strategies, and/or data collection modes)
4. Conducting cognitive testing and pilot testing of proposed alternatives to empirically assess question interpretation and real-world procedure performance
5. Producing detailed cost estimates for administering different proposed approaches, including tradeoffs between cost, burden, and statistical quality

What does "cognitive testing" mean in the context of this grant?

Cognitive testing is used to evaluate how respondents understand and interpret survey questions. In this project, it is part of empirically testing proposed revisions to the NatSCEV instrument and procedures before recommending them for future use.

What does "pilot testing" mean in the context of this grant?

Pilot testing refers to trying proposed survey approaches under real-world conditions to see how well revised procedures perform. The opportunity requires pilot testing as part of evaluating alternative methodologies for future NatSCEV administrations.

What deliverables are expected regarding costs?

The selected applicant must produce detailed cost estimates for administering the different proposed approaches. These estimates are intended to help decision-makers understand what various design options would cost and the tradeoffs between cost, respondent burden, and statistical quality.

What type of award is this?

This is a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally means the funding agency expects to be substantially involved in guiding or collaborating on the work as it progresses, rather than the recipient operating entirely independently.

What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

The funding activity category is information and statistics, aligned with BJS's role as a federal statistical agency.

What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?

The opportunity number is BJS 2016 10080.

When was this opportunity posted and when did applications close?

The opportunity was posted on May 9, 2016, and the application closing date was June 24, 2016.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $500,000.

How many awards does the program anticipate making?

The program anticipates making one award, meaning a single organization will likely lead the effort.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full solicitation. This suggests eligible entities may include research organizations, universities, nonprofits, or other qualified groups depending on the detailed eligibility language in the solicitation.

What is the overall outcome the government is looking for from this project?

The grant is seeking a rigorous redesign and improvement roadmap for NatSCEV: learning from earlier implementations, empirically testing better approaches, quantifying costs, and providing clear recommendations that support accurate national statistics on children's exposure to violence, including the ability to track change over time and report on important subgroups.