System-level Evidence Based Practice Implementation Research: Same questions, different method.

Rebecca Lengnick-Hall, PhD
Washington University in St. Louis

Gracelyn Cruden, PhD
Oregon Social Learning Center

ABSTRACT:
This presentation brings together two researchers with overlapping system-level implementation research interests. While we often ask the same research questions, our methodological and disciplinary differences allow us to answer these questions in different, but complementary ways. The shared line of inquiry questions 1) How are implementation processes affected by multi-level factors over time, and 2) how can implementation support tools be designed to support these complex implementation processes in a manner that is generalizable across contexts, implementation phases, and evidence-based practices (EBPs)?  In this presentation, we will each share an example of our work aimed at understanding the process of responding to evidence-based policy or practice initiatives across implementation phases, while highlighting the unique methodological approaches. Dr. Rebecca Lengnick-Hall will explain how contracting arrangements act as a “bridge” between the public sector systems that fund and the community-based organizations that deliver EBPs. Dr. Gracelyn Cruden will describe a decision support tool based in a multi-criteria decision analysis framework that was developed to support EBP adoption for local implementation. To conclude, we will explore specific ways that our different methodological perspectives have both informed and pushed the other’s research agenda forward. We hope to conclude this presentation by engaging the PSMG community in a discussion about the integration of system science and qualitative methods to understand system-level EBP implementation.