Getting Started

Research doesn’t have to be difficult! The BetaGov team will help you every step of the way: from your very first inkling of how you want to change your agency programs, procedures, or processes to the final reporting of trial results. We are here to help you identify what needs to be tested and how to best accomplish your goals so that you can be confident that the new program you implement is more beneficial than the program it replaced, that your efforts to improve staff satisfaction will reduce turnover, and that changes in agency management processes will increase productivity and efficiency.

Pracademia

To build sustainable research capacity with our partners, we emphasize a learning model called "Pracademia," offering practitioner training, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions. In recorded Pracademia sessions, we provide an general introduction to research (topics include trial design, randomization, ethics, project implementation, regulatory requirements, data analysis, and preparing findings for dissemination), as well as examples from real BetaGov research. This helps our often research-limited partners to visualize how the research concept applies and is implemented in the BetaGov model. We are building additional modules to be posted soon.

Pracademia #1: Introduction to Research and the BetaGov Model (video)

Coming Soon: Pracademia #2, Research Design and Methodology

Submitting an Idea

Tell us about your idea for improving your agency - maybe it is identification of a problem or interest in a promising new program or process. We'll contact you via email to discuss your submitted idea. It is that simple!

Click For Idea Submission Form

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is BetaGov a government agency?

No. BetaGov is not a government agency; we provide training and technical assistance at no cost to users.

What is so different about BetaGov?

Although the aims of the BetaGov model and traditional models of research are the same, there are large methodological differences. Traditional trials research may take years to design, get approved, implement, and complete, but BetaGov can assist practitioners to develop innovative trials to test promising ideas or new approaches in a different way: from inception to launch, BetaGov-assisted trials can happen in as little as a week or two and, depending on the trial, be complete in a few months.

Why isn’t current research good enough?

The current research paradigm is not the only way to test ideas about practices and policies. In fact, BetaGov came to be because it was clear that another model was necessary in order to quickly test both large and small ideas by the very practitioners for whom the findings would be most pertinent. We also think that the best ideas may come from stakeholders in the field rather than from researchers at academic institutions.

Why can’t academic researchers do what BetaGov is proposing?

Researchers at academic institutions must obtain funding to cover the cost of research (including salaries), must obtain institutional regulatory approvals, and are inhibited by practical issues such as identifying partners and research sites. With trials generated by the stakeholders themselves, each agency designs and implements its own trials. This eliminates many of the logistical complications inherent in traditional academic-led research projects.

What kinds of trials are you looking for?

We aren't looking for any particular kind of trial—we want to encourage any and all trials that test something that may help improve aspects of practice or policies that affect practice.

Why shouldn’t I just implement changes in my agency as I have in the past?

The philosophy behind BetaGov is that procedures and policies need to be empirically tested. Although there may be intuitive reasons for thinking a change will be positive, without a controlled trial there is little way to truly know if the change results in positive improvements. By designing a randomized controlled trial, you can better assess whether the changes you have made lead to improvements in process or outcomes, or if the changes are ineffective or inefficient. Furthermore, unlike traditional academically based research results that are buried in small journals or never see the light of day, findings will be available to others through the BetaGov website registry. Thus, your efforts can inform others regardless of whether your study found anticipated or unanticipated results. In fact, BetaGov offers transparency in all aspects of our work, from describing trial operational details to reporting findings to recounting partner relationships.

Does BetaGov provide funding to conduct trials?

No, we do not provide funds but we do provide technical assistance, as well as guidance on funding sources.

Can BetaGov help me obtain funding to conduct a trial?

We expect that the majority of the trials conducted with BetaGov assistance will not require external funding, particularly since the lengthy process of applying for research dollars is not conducive to BetaGov research. By keeping apprised of current government and private funding, however, we can try to identify potential funding sources for your particular trial, and assist you in developing a proposal or application.

What do I do first if I think I have a good idea for change?

Can I only conduct one trial at a time?

No, we can assist you in conducting multiple trials at the same time. There is no limit except your own staff/stakeholder and agency resources and, of course, the conduct of each is predicated on the complexity of the design and subject matter. We encourage agencies to conduct a series of trials, and will designate agencies that have at least ten active BetaGov trials as “Learning Institutes” to serve as models for other sites to emulate.

Getting Started

Pracademia

Submitting an Idea

Tell us about your idea for improving your agency - maybe it is identification of a problem or interest in a promising new program or process. We'll contact you via email to discuss your submitted idea. It is that simple!

New Trial Idea

Frequently Asked Questions