Project Methods:
For the Outcomes Standardization Project to be a success it must ensure that it remains both fully transparent in its methods and ensure that these methods are appropriately rigorous and unbiased. To this end, the OSP Steering Team established the following workflow for each version of the OSP Glossary.
- Each member of the OSP Steering Team proposes a set of terms and/or definitions that may be considered for standardization.
- The initial set of terms and/or definitions is collated and explored by the OSP Steering Team members until a workable set of terms and/or definitions is agreed upon.
- Each member of the OSP Steering team then takes responsibility for subset of the list fleshes out the terms and/or definitions by proposing term alternatives (naming), definition, evidence/citations, examples, and supportive notes. This division of labor is duplicative such that each term is covered by more than one member of the Steering Team Member.
- The OSP Steering Team then digest the proposed information before meeting to debate the merits of establish consensus.
- Once an initial consensus has been obtained, 1:1 interviews are performed with community leaders and outcomes specialists representing providers, supporters, and research scientists.
- Feedback from the 1:1 interviews is reviewed by the OSP Steering Team and a new consensus is established.
- Once the second consensus has been obtained, an open invitation is made for other members of the community to participate in a series of Focus Groups where outstanding questions are explored.
- Feedback from the Focus Groups is reviewed by the OSP Steering Team and a new consensus is established.
- Once the third consensus has been obtained, an open invitation is made for other members of the community to participate in final call for comments to ensure every member of the community has had an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed standardized terms, definitions, and supportive information.
- Feedback from the Call for Comments is reviewed by the OSP Steering Team, a final consensus is established, and the new terms and definitions released to the community as a new version of the OSP Glossary.