Lessons from Implementation Science: Incorporating Qualitative Methods to Bridge the Research-to-Practice Gap in Applied Behavior Analysis

Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. M., & Risley, T. R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91–97.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Balas, E. A., & Boren, S. A. (2000). Managing clinical knowledge for health care improvement. Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 9(01), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1637943

Article  Google Scholar 

Bank, N. L., & Invarsson, E. T. (2024). A call to investigate and improve the research literacy of professional behavior analysts. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 47(4), 763–782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-024-00422-4

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Bauer, M. S., & Kirchner, J. (2020). Implementation science: What is it and why should i care? Psychiatry Research, 283, Article 112376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.04.025

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Burney, V., Arnold-Saritepe, A., & McCann, C. M. (2023). Rethinking the place of qualitative methods in behavior analysis. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 46, 185–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-022-00362-x

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Busetto, L., Wick, W., & Gumbinger, C. (2020). How to use and assess qualitative research methods. Neurological Research and Practice, 2(1), 14–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-020-00059-z

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Coburn, C. E., & Penuel, W. R. (2016). Research–practice partnerships in education: Outcomes, dynamics, and open questions. Educational Researcher, 45(1), 48–54. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X16631750

Article  Google Scholar 

Coburn, C. E., Penuel, W. R., & Farrell, C. C. (2021). Fostering educational improvement with research-practice partnerships. Phi Delta Kappan, 102(7), 14–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/00317217211007332

Article  Google Scholar 

Day, W. F., Jr. (1980). The historical antecedents of contemporary behaviorism. In R. W. Rieber & K. Salzinger (Eds.), Psychology: Theoretical-historical perspectives (1st ed., pp. 203–262). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10276-012

Chapter  Google Scholar 

CFIR Guide. (2021). Identifying relationships between CFIR constructs using qualitative methods. https://cfirguide.org/identifying-relationships-between-cfir-constructs-using-qualitative-methods/

Carr, J. E., & Briggs, A. M. (2010). Strategies for making regular contact with the scholarly literature. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 3(2), 13–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03391760

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Cook, B. G., & Odom, S. L. (2013). Evidence-based practices and implementation science in special education. Exceptional Children, 79(3), 135–144. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440291307900201

Article  Google Scholar 

Damschroder, L. J., Reardon, C. M., Widerquist, M. A. O., & Lowery, J. (2022). The updated consolidated framework for implementation research based on user feedback. Implementation Science, 17(1), Article 75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-022-01245-0

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Eccles, M. P., & Mittman, B. S. (2006). Welcome to implementation science. Implementation Science, 1(1), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-1-1

Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Fixsen, D., Blase, K., Metz, A., & Van Dyke, M. (2013). Statewide implementation of evidence-based programs. Exceptional Children, 79(2), 213–230. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440291307900206

Article  Google Scholar 

Fixsen, D., & Blase, K. (2020). Active implementation frameworks. In P. Nilsen & S. A. Birken (Eds.), Handbook on Implementation Science (pp. 62–87). Elgar.

Google Scholar 

Foxx, R. M. (1996). Translating the covenant: The behavior analyst as ambassador and translator. The Behavior Analyst, 19(2), 147–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393162

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Garcia, N. M., López, N., & Vélez, V. N. (2018). Quantcrit: Rectifying quantitative methods through critical race theory. Race Ethnicity and Education, 21(2), 149–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2017.1377675

Article  Google Scholar 

Ghaemmaghami, M., Hanley, G. P., & Jessel, J. (2021). Functional communication training: From efficacy to effectiveness. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(1), 122–143. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.762

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Gillborn, D., Warmington, P., & Demack, S. (2018). QuantCrit: Education, policy, ‘Big Data’ and principles for a critical race theory of statistics. Race Ethnicity and Education, 21(2), 158–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2017.1377417

Article  Google Scholar 

Glasgow, R. E., Battaglia, C., McCreight, M., Ayele, R., Maw, A. M., Fort, M. P., Holtrop, J. S., Gomes, R. N., & Rabin, B. A. (2022). Use of the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to guide iterative adaptations: Applications, lessons learned, and future directions. Frontiers in Health Services, 2, Article 959565. https://doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2022.959565

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Hamilton, A. B., & Finley, E. P. (2019). Qualitative methods in implementation research: An introduction. Psychiatry Research, 280, Article 112516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112516

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Handley, M. A., Gorukanti, A., & Cattamanchi, A. (2013). Strategies for implementing implementation science: A methodological overview. Emerging Themes in Epidemiology, 10(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-7622-10-5

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Huntington, R. N., Badgett, N. M., Bristol, R. M., McIntosh, J., Kelly, E. M., Bravo, A., Byun, Y. H., Park, M. S., & Greeny, K. (2024). A descriptive assessment of social validity source, timing, and direct consumer inclusion in behavior analytic research. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 47(3), 691–711. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-024-00401-9

Landes, S. J., McBain, S. A., & Curran, G. M. (2020). Reprint of: An introduction to effectiveness-implementation hybrid designs. Psychiatry Research, 283, Article 112630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112630

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Leko, M. M. (2014). The value of qualitative methods in social validity research. Remedial and Special Education, 35(5), 275–286. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932514524002

Miller, K. L., Re Cruz, A., & Ala’i-Rosales, S. (2019). Inherent tensions and possibilities: Behavior analysis and cultural responsiveness. Behavior and Social Issues, 28, 16–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-019-00010-1

Article  Google Scholar 

National Institutes of Health (n.d.). Research priorities: Dissemination & implementation (D&I) research. Retrieved on October 9, 2025 from https://prevention.nih.gov/research-priorities/dissemination-implementation

National Institutes of Health – Division of Cancer Control & Population Science (2020). Qualitative methods in implementation science. https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/nci-dccps-implementationscience-whitepaper.pdf

Nilsen, P., & Bernhardsson, S. (2019). Context matters in implementation science: A scoping review of determinant frameworks that describe contextual determinants for implementation outcomes. BMC Health Services Research, 19, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4015-3

Article  Google Scholar 

Odom, S. L., Hall, L. J., & Suhrheinrich, J. (2020). Implementation science, behavior analysis, and supporting evidence-based practices for individuals with autism. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 21(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2019.1641952

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Parson, L. (2019). Considering Positionality: The Ethics of Conducting Research with Marginalized Groups. In K. K. Strunk & L. A. Locke (Eds.), Research Methods for Social Justice and Equity in Education. Palgrave Macmillan.

Google Scholar 

Powell, B. J., Waltz, T. J., Chinman, M. J., Damschroder, L. J., Smith, J. L., Matthieu, M. M., Proctor, Enola K.., & Kirchner, J. E. (2015). A refined compilation of implementation strategies: Results from the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) project. Implementation Science, 10, Article 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-015-0209-1

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Proctor, E., Silmere, H., Raghavan, R., Hovmand, P., Aarons, G., Bunger, A., Griffey, R., & Hensley, M. (2011). Outcomes for implementation research: Conceptual distinctions, measurement challenges, and research agenda. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 38, 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-010-0319-7

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Proctor, E. K., Bunger, A. C., Lengnick-Hall, R., Gerke, D. R., Martin, J. K., Phillips, R. J., & Swanson, J. C. (2023). Ten years of implementation outcomes research: A scoping review. Implementation Science, 18, Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-023-01286-z

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Rittel, H. W. J., & Webber, M. M. (1973). Dilemmas in a general theory of planning. Policy Sciences, 4, 155–169.

Article  Google Scholar 

Rohrer, J. L., Marshall, K. B., Suzio, C., & Weiss, M. J. (2021). Soft skills: The case for compassionate approaches or how behavior analysis keeps finding its heart. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 1135–1143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00563-x

Article  PubMed 

Comments (0)

No login
gif