Improving Empirical Research Through Development, Validation, and Use of Fidelity of Implementation Measures

• In Event: 31.091 - Fairmont Royal York Roundtable Session Five
  In Roundtable Session: 31.091-8 - Interventions, Validation, Fidelity, and Data Congruence

Abstract

Literature reviews indicate a lack of practical guidance on designing measures of implementation fidelity within school-based research studies and strategies for analyzing fidelity-related data. This study addresses gaps in the literature within the occurrence of a randomized-control transition intervention study on high school girls with disabilities. Fidelity measures were developed in alignment with five theoretical dimensions of fidelity of implementation. Discussed are empirical methods for estimating reliability and validity of two observation-based fidelity scales. Resulting factor analytic models validate the intervention program model, which increases confidence in outcomes. This multi-dimensional approach for measuring fidelity within a school-based intervention study demonstrates one example of ensuring outcomes from a study are not vulnerable to errant claims based on issues related to implementation.

Authors

• Elizabeth Ann Jankowski, University of Oregon

• Robin Martin, University of California - Davis

• Lauren Lindstrom, University of California Davis