Focus of the Award

1. Researcher selects one or two as main focus of investigation.
2. Researcher is focused on care/caring as the domain of inquiry to advance knowledge and practice of nursing, transculturally.
3. Research offers new theoretical or conceptual insights about care/caring phenomena or substantiates existing care theories.
4. Research supports an important research method to explicate humanistic care/caring dimensions, particularly within the qualitative paradigm.
5. Research presents a care practice model to improve or make a difference in the health or well being of people or to help individuals or groups face death or long term disabilities.
6. Research focuses primarily on in-depth transcultural caring phenomena.

Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for this award must meet the following criteria:

1. Registered nurse committed to advance human care research.
2. Member of the International Association for Human Caring.
3. An active teacher, researcher, clinician or consultant who supports human care/caring as the essence of nursing.
4. IAHC officers and board members are not eligible until the term of office is completed.

Process and Expectations

1. Applicant will request an application from the Chair of the Leininger Research Award Committee. One copy of the application and four copies of the research proposal is submitted to the Chair of the Committee by December 1 of each year. The applicant will be notified of receipt of application by the Chair.
2. The completed application receives a blind review of a 4 member IAHC Peer Review committee with final selection of the candidate made in consultation with Dr. Madeleine Leininger. Each applicant is notified of the review outcome by the chair of the committee.
3. Upon completion of the project, the paper will be considered for presentation at the annual Caring Research conferences, and for inclusion in an IAHC publication.
4. The winner of the research award will be announced at the IAHC meetings, in noteworthy publication outlets, newsletters, and journals.
5. The winner will be announced and the award presented by Dr. Madeliene Leininger at the forthcoming annual Caring Research Conference.

Peer Reviewers

1. Appointment of peer reviewers is made by the President of the Association and approved by the Board.
2. Term of appointment is three years, with staggered terms to assure a consistent level of experience within the committee.
3. Peer reviewers must be members of the Association at least two years prior to appointment.
4. Reviewers may not submit an application for review during term of office; or may request to be replaced during the year of the application submission.