Studies of U.S. Universities' Research Equipment Needs Inconclusive
Gao ID: RCED-84-105 April 3, 1984In response to a congressional request, GAO analyzed studies and other relevant data to determine the factors which influence the nationwide university need for research equipment and identified and evaluated options for equipping university laboratories.
GAO determined that none of the studies it examined provided a current estimate of the magnitude of nationwide university research equipment needs. However, GAO noted that five of the studies concluded that the university need for research equipment was significant. GAO suggested that a partial estimate of equipment needs could be obtained from the Department of Defense university research equipment program and that any future studies incorporate a representative sample of universities and a peer review process to validate equipment needs.