The Importance of Improving Implementation Research for Successful Interventions and Adaptations

Abstract

This special issue explores the theoretical underpinnings, triumphs, and challenges of implementing four early childhood education interventions. In doing so, each article highlights the importance of studying the implementation context as part of the evaluation process. This commentary reflects on the entire issue, ultimately arguing that future evaluations must continue to conduct—and improve on—implementation research. Specifically, to understand evaluation findings and scale up or adapt interventions effectively, researchers must examine implementation processes systematically, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. This includes: explaining how interventions were designed, theorizing the relationships between implementation processes and outcomes, defining the implementation phase under study, examining the validity and reliability of implementation measures, and using accessible language in reports.

KEYWORDS:

• early childhood
• evaluation
• implementation research
• interventions
• mixed methods