The IDRC in Canada developed a tool called Research Quality Plus (RQ+) to assess applied and translational research. The RQ+ approach has three underlying principles to guide assessment: identify contextual factors, articulate dimensions of quality, and use rubrics and evidence. The review process itself is made-up of four steps:
- Selecting the sample – selection of projects and projects’ outputs
- Characterizing the key influences – examining context and applying a rubric
- Rating the quality of the research – using (sub)dimensions and a rubric
- Synthesizing the ratings – rolling up across projects, programs, portfolios to the desired level of evaluation