Culture and Climate
Research to inform and improve DoD command climate, unit cohesion, and morale
Examples include…
Identifying metrics to assess workforce wellbeing
Developing approaches to measure unit cohesion using surveys and administrative data
Interviewing current and former military leaders about their efforts to maintain unit morale
Identifying barriers and facilitators to inclusive climates
Research to understand progress and remaining challenges in DoD’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion
Assessing barriers to minority and female participation in special operations forces and aviation
Understanding the scope and nature of prohibited extremist activities
Examining retention and promotion outcomes by race/ethnicity and sex
Analyzing the impact of past policy changes on promotion diversity
Research Spotlight: Assessing the Impact of Removing Demographic Indicators from Military Selection Boards
In this Congressionally-mandated study, IDA assessed the potential impact of removing data that directly or indirectly identify race, ethnicity, and gender in promotion/selection procedures (e.g., removing names and pronouns). IDA’s quantitative analyses examined the impact of prior policies to partially blind promotion boards and found no significant impact on minority officer promotion rates. Further, qualitative lines of effort suggested that removing demographic indicators would not be feasible and that other actions to strengthen board procedures would be more fruitful.
Harmful Behavior Prevention
Harmful behavior prevention & response: Multi-disciplinary research to inform DoD policy
Evaluating prevention programs, practices, and policies
Developing repositories of evidence-informed prevention activities
Analyzing sexual assault investigative interview and case files to improve interview training
Assessing how alcohol prices on military installations impact incidence of alcohol misuse and other destructive behaviors
Conducting a survey on social interactions and sexual behavior to understand risk factors for harmful behavior
Assessing the state of knowledge on factors associated with risk of sexual harassment or assault
Research Spotlight: Providing Technical Assistance to Support Program Evaluation in the National Guard
Since 2018, IDA has supported the National Guard Bureau’s (NGB) Warrior Resilience and Fitness (WRF) Division by developing, refining, and implementing a process to identify and evaluate state-developed prevention activities. IDA has provided technical assistance to over 50 pilot programs as they develop and implement evaluation plans. Technical assistance consists of recommending metrics and developing data collection tools; analyzing outcome data; and synthesizing and presenting results for NGB leadership. These efforts have already contributed to regional- and national-level adoption of several state-developed programs.
See our full report.
Research Spotlight: Statistical Methods Inform Suicide Prevention Planning
To help the National Guard Bureau (NGB) decide how suicide prevention funding and programs would best be distributed across the U.S., IDA researchers conducted quantitative analyses of suicide rates in the U.S. Army National Guard (ARNG) and in the general population. The analysis revealed that while the ARNG suicide rate was higher than in the general population, differences in age, sex, and geographic distribution could explain much of the difference. Accordingly, the team recommended a set of prevention programs with evidence of success among the general population.
See our research summary and full report.
Research Spotlight: Sexual Misconduct in the Military — Contextualizing the Problem, Advancing the Dialogue
Sexual misconduct is a significant social problem, both in and out of the military. It can be life-altering for those who experience it, and it can cause significant strain in the communities where it happens. Military policymakers called for an evidence-based understanding of the individual and contextual factors that may contribute to sexual misconduct. In response, IDA reviewed hundreds of prior studies to help the Army Resilience Directorate and DOD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office understand what is known – and not known – about the causes, contexts, and treatment of sexual misconduct among both military and civilian populations.
See our report to learn more.