NSF Review: Review Process for the National Science Foundation's Science and Engineering Pipeline Study

GAO discussed the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Science and Engineering Pipeline Study, focusing on: (1) how NSF reviewed the study; and (2) information that NSF provided in a September 1991 letter to a congressional subcommittee on its study review process. GAO noted that: (1) in 1984, the White House requested the study to analyze the demand-supply balance for scientists and engineers; (2) although several levels of NSF officials approved the study and followed existing NSF procedures for internally reviewing the study, an NSF letter regarding its review of the study may have conveyed the impression that NSF provided a more formal external review of the study than GAO was able to identify; (3) although the NSF letter stated that nine NSF officials reviewed the study, eight did not conduct a formal review of the study, and the ninth official did not remember reviewing the study; (4) NSF stated that they use the word review to mean professional interaction which includes discussions within the professional community on study-related concepts and topics; and (5) the study appears to have received little or no formal review from persons outside NSF.