Eligibility

• No self-nominations.
• The use of the term research in reference to this award shall be broadly construed to mean any and all forms of recognized formal research-methodologies, paradigms and perspectives. Eligible research is that which has:
  • added significantly to understanding of the status, impact, characteristics and activities of social studies education or social education, including several separate and distinct contributions related to curriculum, instruction, evaluation and the learning and teaching of and in the social studies;
  • stimulated a sense of responsibility among and fostered other professionals to engage in additional research efforts;
  • added significantly to the information bases to those working in the social studies/social education field as evidenced by citations of their work within the social studies literature; and
  • been used by professionals as the basis for significant decisions, rationales and practices related to one or more areas of social studies curriculum instruction, evaluation, teaching or learning.

Criteria

A person is eligible for consideration and receipt of this award when the following conditions have been met:

1. published documentation of research endeavors and findings exist covering a span of approximately ten or more years;
2. published documentation that research reveals a focus or direction in a significant segment of the research effort, without intending that the individual has spent the entire time on a single or a limited range of research topics;
3. documentation exists that cites in positive ways the person's research contributions, broadly defined;
4. letters of support on behalf of the researcher are received by not less than five recognized researchers in the field of social studies/social science education; and
5. the person does not necessarily have to be currently involved in active research and publications in the social studies/social education areas or fields or a current member of NCSS.

Application Requirements

• Letter of Nomination
• Nominee CV
• Public Document Evidence
  • Public documents of the candidate’s research activities over a period of approximately ten or more years.
• Significance of Contributions Evidence
  • Letter(s) that testifies to the significance of the person’s long-time research contributions to social education.
• Quality of Research Evidence
  • Supporting documentation that testifies to the quality of the research conceptualization, methodology, procedures, data analysis, and interpretations and conclusions used in the research work being considered.
• Fostering Investigation Evidence
  • Written statements that the person’s research contributed to fostering investigations by others on the same or related area or was used by others in their own research.
• Recognition by Colleagues Evidence
  • Recognition by colleagues as a long-time leader engaging in and advancing research in social studies/social education (broadly defined) through her/his involvement in the profession or through professional publications.

Award

Winners receive:

• A plaque as a permanent symbol of the person's achievement;
• A formal announcement as the recipient during the NCSS Annual Conference, in appropriate NCSS official publications, through correspondence to other appropriate professional publications (e.g., AERA, ASCD), and through a formal letter to key members of the recipient's professional institution; and
• A one-year comprehensive membership in NCSS and CUFA.