SSA’S USER NEEDS ANALYSIS (UNA) FOR THE OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (OIS) CONTENT MODEL

1. SSA’S USER NEEDS ANALYSIS (UNA) FOR THE OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (OIS) CONTENT MODEL Shirleen Roth and Michael Dunn Social Security Administration Office of Program Development and Research January 2010

2. Overview • Objectives • Research Question • Research Participants • Development • Methodology • Results • Discussion Social Security Administration

3. The Two Worlds of Work Social Security Administration

4. Objectives • Primary Objective: Development of OIS Content Model • Secondary Objective: Inform Future Integration of the OIS into SSA’s Disability Claims Processes Social Security Administration

5. Research Question • What occupational, vocational, and medical-vocational information does SSA need or would SSA like to have in order to adjudicate claims for adult disability benefits? Social Security Administration

6. Research Participants • Research participants were SSA users of occupational information (that is, SSA disability adjudicators and reviewers). • SSA is respectful of needs and contributions of other users of occupational information. Social Security Administration

7. SSA UNA Development • Evolved out of a series of prior investigations • Physical and Mental Demands of Work Questionnaire • UNA Pretest Atlanta, GA • UNA Pretest Chicago, IL Social Security Administration

8. Methodology: Sampling Frame • SSA headquarters components and DDS offices in the Philadelphia region • Particular office selection based on: • Public Law (P.L.) 104-13, The Paperwork Reduction Act (1995) • Our ability to obtain a professional and geographically diverse sample Social Security Administration

9. Methodology: Sampling Frame • Factors considered in office selection: • Time and resource constraints • Goal was to include at least three DDS offices • Centralized and decentralized DDS office structures • Service areas with potential differences in industries or occupations • Willingness to participate Social Security Administration

10. Participating Offices • Disability Determination Services (DDS), Maryland • DDS Clarksburg, West Virginia • DDS, Greensburg, Pennsylvania • Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), Office of Appellate Operations • Office of Operations, Atlanta Regional Office, Center for Disability Operations • Office of Operations, Chicago Regional Office, Center for Disability • Office of Quality Performance (OQP), Atlanta Disability Quality Branch (DQB) • OQP, Baltimore DQB • OQP, Chicago DQB • Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise Social Security Administration

11. Methodology: Interviews • Presented to participants as a brainstorming activity • Semi-structured design • Questions • Written responses were analyzed in conjunction with digital recordings • Digital recordings • Duration of one hour Social Security Administration

12. Methodology: Interviews • Nine Impairments selected: • Herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine • Osteoarthritis of the upper and lower extremities • Depression • Ischemic heart disease • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • Borderline intellectual functioning • Cerebrovascular accident • Schizophrenia • Multiple Sclerosis Social Security Administration

13. Sample Questionnaire • Picture an individual with (insert impairment); what work-related limitations or restrictions might a person have as a result of this impairment? • Additional follow-up questions provided for each impairment. Social Security Administration

14. Methodology: Focus Groups • Primary source of information in the UNA • Developed to: • Elicit users’ perceptions of the essential physical and mental/cognitive requirements of work, and • Elicit any ideas for later integration of the OIS into SSA’s disability claims processes, including improvements in documenting a claimant’s allegations and past relevant work. Social Security Administration

15. Sample Questions • Based on your interview, what are some of the requirements of work (physical/mental) with regards to the various impairments discussed? • Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding how to obtain information about the claimant’s functioning more efficiently? • Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding how to obtain information about the claimants past work more efficiently? Social Security Administration

16. Results • Physical Data • Sensory Data • Environmental Data • Mental Data • Task Data • Workplace Tolerances, Flexibilities, and Standards • General Comments and Suggestions Social Security Administration

17. Discussion of Results • Generated a substantial number of ideas and opinions from subject matter experts, • Produced consistent responses in terms of Content Model data elements and measurements, • Generated unique ideas for later integration of the OIS into SSA’s disability claims process, and • Produced wish list of items for new OIS. Social Security Administration

18. Discussion of Results • Themes • Content Model: Worker Traits and Work Demands • Updated Occupational Information Versus an Updated Dictionary of Occupational Titles • Data Versus Their Application • Classification: US Labor Market Connection • Data Suggestions for Work History and Transferability Assessments • Work Options Social Security Administration