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Ensuring High Impact Organizational Change: Applying Implementation Science Methods to Human Service Delivery
Applying Implementation Science Methods to Human Service Delivery
Background: The significant gap between research to practice in health and human services has increased the importance of investing in implementation science (IS). Yet, this science still is in need of coherent and theoretically sound research methods to demonstrate its value to closing the existing research to practice gap.
Objectives: By the end of the workshop, participants will (1) know where to find information about IS, (2) identify feasible methods and measures for designing and implementing studies in their field of interest, (3) and connect with a network of implementation research for follow up support.
Content: Facilitators will review research designs and methodological considerations in implementation research structured around the following questions:
- What type of implementation research should I conduct? Implementation trials, observational studies, pre-implementation studies, hybrid effectiveness-implementation
- What research design should I select? Designs that balance feasibility and rigor.
- What measures should I use? Measurement issues specific to organizational-level research such as sources for measures/instruments, and aggregation of individual-level observations to represent organizational-level constructs in implementation research.
- Where do I learn more about implementation research methods? Sources of information and training.
Approach: Facilitators will include implementation researchers at different levels of expertise/experience (doctoral student, early, mid and senior career investigators) from varied substantive backgrounds (behavioral health, child welfare, etc.). The format of the workshop will include an overview of IS (traditional didactic) and a review of actual studies. This presentation will be followed by small group consultation. Participants will break out into small consultation groups based on pre-identified topics. Presenters will facilitate discussion, provide feedback and create opportunities for follow up and networking after the workshop session.