ABS Research Policy

I. ABS Research Mission Statement

The American Board of Surgery (ABS) will conduct research, both internally and collaboratively, to assess the value of initial and continuous certification and to understand the relationship of certification to surgical training, clinical practice, lifelong learning, and assessment.

II. Procedure for Submitting Research Proposals

The ABS accepts proposals from outside individuals and organizations requesting ABS data and/or analysis support from the ABS. Priority will be given to requests that align with the mission of the ABS and its research agenda. Projects that are not necessarily aligned with the ABS research agenda may be considered on an individual basis. The ABS considers the following topics to be high priorities for research:

• The value of ABS certification (linking board certification to external criteria)
• Residency training (operative experience, competency, factors related to exam success, focused practice)
• What do surgeons do in practice? (operative experience)
• Evaluation of new ABS Continuous Certification Program (surveys/outcomes)
• Psychometrics (evaluating psychometric processes for defensibility)

Proposals must be submitted to the ABS with a summary of the proposed project via the Research Request Form. Please note: Completing this form will require that you sign in to a Google account. If you do not have a Google account, please email ABS Senior Psychometrician Carol Barry, Ph.D., for information on how to submit a research proposal.

The ABS Research Committee will meet quarterly to evaluate proposals and make a determination regarding ABS approval for the project. All proposals will be subject to a Data Use Agreement (DUA) and the ABS may also require remuneration for projects that require staff resources.

Updated: November 2022