A Procedure for Assessing Fidelity of Implementation in Experiments Testing Educational Interventions Michael C. Nelson 1 , David S. Cordray 1 , Chris S. Hulleman 2 , Catherine L. Darrow 1 , & Evan C. Sommer 1 1 Vanderbilt University, 2 James Madison University 1
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A Procedure for Assessing Fidelity of Implementation in Experiments Testing Educational Interventions Michael C. Nelson 1, David S. Cordray 1, Chris S.
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A Procedure for Assessing Fidelity of Implementation
in Experiments Testing Educational Interventions
Michael C. Nelson1, David S. Cordray1, Chris S. Hulleman2, Catherine L. Darrow1, & Evan C.
Sommer1
1Vanderbilt University, 2James Madison University
1
Purposes of Paper:
2
To argue for a model-based approach for assessing implementation fidelity
To provide a template for assessing implementation fidelity that can be used by intervention developers, researchers, and implementers as a standard approach.
Presentation Outline
3
I. What is implementation fidelity?
II. Why assess implementation fidelity?
III. A five-step process for assessing
implementation fidelity
IV. Concluding points
A Note on Examples:
4
• Examples are drawn from our review of (mainly) elementary math intervention studies, which we are currently deepening and expanding to other subject areas
• Examples for many areas are imperfect or lacking
• As our argument depends on having good examples of the most complicated cases, we appreciate any valuable examples to which you can refer us ([email protected].)
What Is Implementation Fidelity?
5
What is implementation fidelity?
6
Implementation fidelity is the extent to which the intervention has been implemented as expected
Assessing fidelity raises the question: Fidelity to what?
The intent-to-treat (ITT) experiment identifies the effects of causes:
Assignment to Condition
Treatment “Black Box”
Intervention’s Causal
Processes
OutcomesOutcome Measures
Control “Black Box”
Business As UsualCausal
Processes
OutcomesOutcome Measures
Fidelity vs. the Black Box
9
…While fidelity assessment “opens up” the black box to explain the effects of causes:
Intervention “Black Box”
Intervention Component
Mediator OutcomeAssignment to Condition
FidelityMeasure 1
FidelityMeasure 2
Outcome Measure
Fidelity assessment allows us to:
10
Determine the extent of construct validity and external validity, contributing to generalizability of results
Fidelity assessment allows us to:
11
Determine the extent of construct validity and external validity, contributing to generalizability of results
For significant results, describe what exactly did work (actual difference between Tx and C)
Fidelity assessment allows us to:
12
Determine the extent of construct validity and external validity, contributing to generalizability of results
For significant results, describe what exactly did work (actual difference between Tx and C)
For non-significant results, it may explain why beyond simply “the intervention doesn’t work”
Fidelity assessment allows us to:
13
Determine the extent of construct validity and external validity, contributing to generalizability of results
For significant results, describe what exactly did work (actual difference between Tx and C)
For non-significant results, it may explain why beyond simply “the intervention doesn’t work”
Potentially improve understanding of results and future implementation
Limitations of Fidelity Assessment:
14
Not a causal analysis, but it does provide evidence for answering important questions
Limitations of Fidelity Assessment:
15
Not a causal analysis, but it does provide evidence for answering important questions
Involves secondary questions
Limitations of Fidelity Assessment:
16
Not a causal analysis, but it does provide evidence for answering important questions
Involves secondary questions Field is still developing and validating methods
and tools for measurement and analysis
Limitations of Fidelity Assessment:
17
Not a causal analysis, but it does provide evidence for answering important questions
Involves secondary questions Field is still developing and validating methods
and tools for measurement and analysis Cannot be a specific, one-size-fits-all approach
A Five Step Process for Assessing Fidelity of Implementation
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1. Specify the intervention model2. Identify fidelity indices3. Determine index reliability and validity4. Combine fidelity indices*5. Link fidelity measures to outcomes*
*Not always possible or necessary
Step 1: Specify the Intervention Model
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The Change Model
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• A hypothetical set of constructs and relationships among constructs representing the core components of the intervention and the causal processes that result in outcomes
The Change Model
21
• A hypothetical set of constructs and relationships among constructs representing the core components of the intervention and the causal processes that result in outcomes
• Should be based on theory, empirical findings, discussion with developer, actual implementation
The Change Model
22
• A hypothetical set of constructs and relationships among constructs representing the core components of the intervention and the causal processes that result in outcomes
• Should be based on theory, empirical findings, discussion with developer, actual implementation
• Start with Change Model because it is sufficiently abstract to be generalizable, but also specifies important components/processes, thus guiding operationalization, measurement, and analysis
Change Model: Generic Example
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Teacher training in use of educational
software
Teachers assist students in using
educational software
Improved student learning
Intervention Component
Mediator Outcome
Change Model: Project LINCS
24
Adapted from Swafford, Jones, and Thornton, 1997
Instruction in student
cognition of geometry
Instruction in geometry
Increase in teacher
knowledge of student
cognition
Increase in teacher
knowledge of geometry
Improved teacher
instructional practice
The Logic Model
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The set of resources and activities that operationalize the change model for a particular implementation
The Logic Model
26
The set of resources and activities that operationalize the change model for a particular implementation
A roadmap for implementation
The Logic Model
27
The set of resources and activities that operationalize the change model for a particular implementation
A roadmap for implementation
Derived from the change model with input from developer and other sources (literature, implementers, etc.)
Logic Model: Project LINCS
28
Adapted from Swafford, Jones, and Thornton, 1997
Research seminar on van Hiele
model
Geometry content course
Increase in teacher knowledge of student
cognition
Increase in teacher knowledge of geometry
Instruction in geometry
Instruction in student cognition of
geometry
Improved teacher
instructional practice
How it is taught
Characteristics teachers display
What is taught
A Note on Models and Analysis:
29
Recall that one can specify models for both the treatment and control conditions.
The “true” cause is the difference between conditions, as reflected in the model for each.
Using the change model as a guide, one may design equivalent indices for each condition to determine the relative strength of the intervention (Achieved Relative Strength, ARS).
This approach will be discussed in the next presentation (Hulleman).
Steps 2 and 3: Develop Reliable and Valid Fidelity Indices and Apply to the Model
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Examples of Fidelity Indices
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Self-report surveys Interviews Participant logs Observations Examination of permanent products created
during the implementation process
Index Reliability and Validity
32
Both are reported inconsistently Report reliability at a minimum, because
unreliable indices cannot be valid Validity is probably best established from pre-
existing information or side studies
Index Reliability and Validity
33
Both are reported inconsistently Report reliability at a minimum, because
unreliable indices cannot be valid Validity is probably best established from pre-
existing information or side studies We should be as careful in measuring the
cause as we are in measuring its effects!
Selecting Indices
34
• Guided foremost by the change model: identify core components as those that differ significantly between conditions and upon which the causal processes are thought to depend
Selecting Indices
35
• Guided foremost by the change model: identify core components as those that differ significantly between conditions and upon which the causal processes are thought to depend
• Use the logic model to determine fidelity indicator(s) for each change component
Selecting Indices
36
• Guided foremost by the change model: identify core components as those that differ significantly between conditions and upon which the causal processes are thought to depend
• Use the logic model to determine fidelity indicator(s) for each change component
• Base the number and type of indices on the nature and importance of each component
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