Sylvia Karman

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Content Model and Disability Evaluation
Constructs (DEC) Inventory

• Sylvia Karman
• MARK tRAPANI
• Elizabeth Kennedy

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What is a content model?

• Totality of constructs that will form the basis
  of the new OIS
• Blueprint of items, scales, and measures that
  need to be reflected in a work analysis
  instrument
• Job analysts use the job analysis instrument to
  conduct work analyses
• Data from the work analyses populate the OIS and
  produce the occupational title taxonomy (i.e.
  occupational titles)
• The content model cannot be finalized until after
  data collection

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Business Process for Development of the OIS

• All project activities
• Phase I Preliminary Planning and Information
  Gathering
• Phase II Design
• Phase III Data Gathering and Analysis
• Phase IV Product Preparation, Review, and
  Approval

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Content Model Phase I

• Conceptual plan for content model development
• Consultation with the Panel and Workgroup
• Some assumptions
• OIS content model and subsequent OIS development
  will be driven by focus on work-side constructs
• Development of the content model requires
  specific expertise
• SSA will need to hire or contract with
  individuals who have that expertise
• The content model must address SSAs disability
  evaluation needs

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Content Model Phase I

• General Methodology
• Use the Work Taxonomy and Classification
  Subcommittees proposed work taxonomy dimensions
  as basis for development of the Content Model
  (Work Taxonomy)
• Identify disability evaluation constructs to
  inform the development of the content model with
  recognition that the work-side data collected for
  the OIS will need to be linked with information
  SSA collects about claimants.
• Need for 2 Phase II documents

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Content Model Phase II

• Phase II Development of Work Taxonomy
• Currently in development
• Phase II Identification of Disability
  Evaluation Constructs
• Planned to develop 5 inventories (Core Disability
  Constructs, Panel, NIH and BU, Public Comments,
  All Sources).
• One analyst develops initial inventories and two
  policy experts review
• Only include functional or vocational constructs
  on Final List
• Only include constructs not in direct conflict
  with SSA regulations on Final List

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Definitions for this activity

• Functional construct
• Pertaining to work-related physical,
  psychological, and sensory/motor capabilities of
  a person, or environmental conditions a person
  may not be able to tolerate due to an impairment.
  
• Vocational construct
• Pertaining to age, education, and work
  experience.

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Sources
Phase III Example of Inventory of Core
Disability Policy Constructs

• Residual Functional Capacity Form
• Mental Residual Functional Capacity Form
• Sections of program regulations that pertain most
  directly to assessment of Residual Functional
  Capacity and vocational considerations
• Definitions from regulations and other policy
  sources

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Source
Phase III Example of Inventory of Panel
Constructs

• Panels September 2009 report
• Content Model and Classification Recommendations
  for the Social Security Administration
  Occupational Information System

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Source
Phase III Example of Inventory of NIH and BU
Constructs

• NIH and BU Content Models for exploratory work
  with SSA to develop Computer Adaptive Testing
  instruments

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Phase III Example of Inventory of Constructs
from Public Comments

• Sources
• In 2010, OVRD staff developed a synthesis of all
  recommendations and comments received regarding
  Panel recommendations
• Identified constructs based on information in
  synthesis document

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Phase III Example of Inventory of All Constructs
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Next Steps

• DEC Phase IV Product Preparation, Review, and
  Approval
• Share with Panel and SSA OIS Development
  Workgroup for comments
• Ensure that relevant comments are considered and
  addressed
• Obtain approval from SSA management for the final
  product
• Phase II for Development of Work Taxonomy
• Will describe how we will further develop the
  work-side taxonomy with the assistance of work
  analysis experts

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Next Steps

• Use the DEC constructs to focus identification of
  work-side constructs around SSAs needs
• Discussion with work analysis experts, for
  example,
• Lifting is on the DEC - Need items about lifting.
• Constructs related to memory on the DEC - How do
  we obtain information about memory as a mental
  demand of work?

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Questions and Feedback