Implementation science employs a wide range of methodologies that originate from diverse disciplines. Below are twelve distinct research methods that contribute to implementation science. This, however, is not an exhaustive list of methods used in implementation research.
Stakeholder & Policy Analysis
The intentional integration of stakeholder perspectives and feedback in the analysis of policy advisability, execution and impact
Dissemination Research
The targeted distribution of information and intervention materials to a specific public health audience or clinical practice audience
Social Marketing
The application of marketing principals to policy selection, as well as to implementation or intervention planning and operational delivery. This is done in a reflexive and critical manner
Surveillance & Data Systems
Routine surveillance data from control and experimental groups can be used illustrate the performance or impact of new policies and programs in an environment
Impact Evaluation
Quantitative evaluations of the changes attributable to the intervention being studied. In an impact evaluation, IS aims to better understand why and how interventions work in practice
Economic Evaluation & Costing
Monetary-focused assessments evaluating system efficiency and allocation of resources to implementations, interventions, or services
Qualitative Research
The gathering of non-numerical data (interviews, focus group discussions, etc.) to understand concepts, opinions, and experiences. Examples include acceptability studies, evaluations of facilitators and barriers, etc.
Operations Research
Includes operational research modeling and systems engineering techniques
Organizational Assessment
Assessments that measure an organization’s capacity, performance, culture, climate, readiness for implementation or change, external context, and/or social networks
Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach (SAIA)
Evidence-based implementation strategy that combines system engineering tools into a five-step, facility-level package to give clinic staff and managers a system-wide view of their cascade performance, identify priority areas for improvement, discern modifiable opportunities for improvement, and test workflow modifications
Intervention Mapping
Implementation Mapping provides a systematic process for developing strategies to improve the adoption, implementation, and maintenance of evidence-based interventions in real-world settings. This iterative process begins with conducting an implementation needs assessment and concludes with evaluating implementation outcomes.
Process Mapping
Tool for assessing site context prior to implementation of an intervention/program and used to adapt implementation/evaluate the program. Process maps show the steps and flow of a process and are used in quality improvement to examine current processes and identify areas to intervene to improve quality
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For more information about these methodologies, and guidance on how to choose a study design, see: