ADA's Research Philosophy

The ADA believes that research is the foundation of the profession providing the basis for practice, education and policy.

Dietetics is the integration and application of principles derived from the sciences of nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, food management and behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain people’s health; therefore, dietetics research is a dynamic collaborative and assimilative endeavor. This research is broad in scope ranging from basic to applied practice research.

Dietetic professionals are responsible to incorporate research into all areas of practice. Both the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice identify the roles of dietetic professionals in research. The Code of Ethics states that the dietetic professional practices are based on scientific principles and current information. The Standards of Professional Practice states that each dietetics professional effectively applies, participates in or generates research to enhance practice.

The Association uses research as the basis of decisions, policy, and communication in a variety of roles. The Association’s organizational roles related to research include advocating, facilitating, convening, funding, disseminating, and educating its members. The Association accomplishes these roles collaboratively with other scientists and organizations. The following is an explanation of these various research roles:

Advocacy = Involves identifying federal and non-governmental agencies/organizations/individuals who can support the Association’s research agenda. Examples of advocacy roles would be for the Association to identify research questions for USDA/ERS or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, or to testify before congressional leaders on the importance of research funding for data collection and nutrition monitoring.

Facilitator = Involves targeting key research questions to be answered and facilitating a successful process to answer these questions. For example, ADA would facilitate partnerships or multidisciplinary collaboration between various researchers to find potential funding sources and conduct the research.

Convener = Involves convening key scientists and practitioners from various disciplines to explore new approaches in solving dietetics related research questions. Examples might be convening a meeting to discuss research needed to address childhood weight management treatment and prevention.

Funder = Prepares, disseminates and funds research proposals on key research questions important to the profession. Sometimes this process involves funding for research under RFA or RFP and other times the research is actually conducted in house. The amount of funding is dependent on the availability of internal and external funds.

Educator = Develops professional development opportunities for members to enhance their knowledge of how to read, interpret, translate, integrate and use research. The Association also provides professional development opportunities for members to enhance their abilities to conduct high quality research.

Disseminator = Distributes research results to members and the public through publications, Web sites and print and electronic media.