Abstract
An intervention’s effectiveness is judged by whether it produces positive outcomes for participants, with the randomized experiment
being the gold standard for determining intervention effects. However, the intervention-as-implemented in an experiment frequently
differs from the intervention-as-designed, making it unclear whether unfavorable results are due to an ineffective intervention
model or the failure to implement the model fully. It is therefore vital to accurately and systematically assess intervention
fidelity and, where possible, incorporate fidelity data in the analysis of outcomes. This paper elaborates a five-step procedure
for systematically assessing intervention fidelity in the context of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), describes the advantages
of assessing fidelity with this approach, and uses examples to illustrate how this procedure can be applied.
being the gold standard for determining intervention effects. However, the intervention-as-implemented in an experiment frequently
differs from the intervention-as-designed, making it unclear whether unfavorable results are due to an ineffective intervention
model or the failure to implement the model fully. It is therefore vital to accurately and systematically assess intervention
fidelity and, where possible, incorporate fidelity data in the analysis of outcomes. This paper elaborates a five-step procedure
for systematically assessing intervention fidelity in the context of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), describes the advantages
of assessing fidelity with this approach, and uses examples to illustrate how this procedure can be applied.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-23
- DOI 10.1007/s11414-012-9295-x
- Authors
- Michael C. Nelson, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 201-A Hobbs, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
- David S. Cordray, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 201-A Hobbs, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
- Chris S. Hulleman, Center for Assessment and Research Studies, James Madison University, 821 S. Main St., MSC 6806, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
- Catherine L. Darrow, Abt Associates Inc., 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Evan C. Sommer, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 1900 Richard Jones Road, Apartment A111, Nashville, TN 37215, USA
- Journal The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research
- Online ISSN 1556-3308
- Print ISSN 1094-3412