RESEARCH & EVALUATION AGENDA

Oct 15, 2026

August 2023 RESEARCH & EVALUATION AGENDA prepared by Melanie Livet, Ph. D. outlines why the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) should strengthen its research and evaluation agenda and leverage project-generated data to advance implementation science. It focuses on contributing innovative practice-based insights, demonstrating the value and return on investment of implementation practice, improving the rigor of practice-based evidence through alternative study designs, and expanding NIRN’s leadership footprint through broader data, scholarship, and reach across human services.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Why a NIRN Research & Evaluation Agenda?

Contributing Innovative Insights

Demonstrating the Value of Implementation Practice

Improving the Rigor of Practice-Based Evidence in Implementation Science

Expanding NIRN’s Footprint as a Leader in Implementation Science

What is the NIRN Research & Evaluation Agenda?

August 2023 RESEARCH & EVALUATION AGENDA Prepared By : Melanie Livet, Ph. D. Why a NIRN Research & Evaluation Agenda? The mission of the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) is to contribute to the best practicesand science of implementation, organizational change, and system reinvention to improve outcomes across the spectrum of human services. As such, it has been involved in advancing implementation practice through numerous initiatives over the past 17 years. Although recognized as an implementation practice leader, NIRN has not been as consistent with its implementation research and evaluation agenda (REA) . Yet, it is uniquely positioned to advance implementation research and evaluation based on the wealth of data generated through its projects. By contributing innovative practice-based research insights, demonstrating the value of implementation practice, improving the rigor of the evidence generated through practice-based research, and increasing its scholarship and policy outputs, NIRN is primed to further establish itself as a national player in implementation science. Contributing Innovative Insights An opportunity to advance implementation science through practice-based research and a focus on practical implementation NIRN is well positioned to expand the focus of current implementation science agendas by contributing its wealth of knowledge on implementation practice and capitalizing on the practice-based data generated through its projects. There have been recent calls from the implementation science community for an increased focus on practice-based and communitydefined evidence (Brownson et al. , 2022) . NIRN already aims to engage stakeholders in a meaningful way; optimizes insights from lived experiences; develops practical implementation solutions; recognizes the importance of promoting equity; understands the challenges of implementing complex interventions in complex systems; and makes use of pragmatic methods. All of these strategies are essential to generating practice-based research. The REA will facilitate a more systematic approach for NIRN to compiling and disseminating practice-based findings to advance implementation science. August 2023 Page 3 Demonstrating the Value of Implementation Practice An opportunity to demonstrate returnon-investment (ROI) and the value of implementation practice The importance of implementation practice (i. e. , use of strategies or interventions to support implementation) has been traditionally undervalued compared to implementation research. Consistently translating knowledge into practical implementation systems that include processes, tools, and roadmaps, for use in real-world contexts has been the focus of few groups (e.g. , NIRN, Wandersman team, the Center for Implementation) . Yet, while research informs practice, without practice, there is no research. As an implementation practice leader, NIRN has an opportunity to demonstrate the value and cost-effectiveness of implementation practice by exploring and testing optimal implementation approaches within specific settings. Demonstrating ROI will increase stakeholder buy-in and maximize opportunities to infuse implementation practice into initiatives that could benefit from this approach. Improving the Rigor of Practice-Based Evidence in Implementation Science An opportunity to contribute to knowledge expansion through application of alternative designs The need to broaden and customize research approaches (study designs, methods, outcomes) designed to produce rigorous yet actionable evidence has been recognized by the implementation science community (Brownson et al. , 2022) . Rigorous designs, such as Randomized Control Trials (RCTs), the gold standard for many research endeavors, tend to focus on internal validity and control of confounding factors, rather than embracing context, variability, and practicality. By definition, implementation work is far from mechanistic, occ

FAQs

Why does NIRN need a Research & Evaluation Agenda?

To advance implementation research and evaluation using the wealth of data generated through its projects, producing innovative practice-based insights and stronger evidence for implementation science.

How will NIRN demonstrate the value of implementation practice?

By exploring and testing optimal implementation approaches in specific settings and demonstrating return on investment (ROI) to increase stakeholder buy-in.

What approach will improve the rigor of practice-based evidence?

By applying alternative research designs that balance real-world utility with rigor, such as pragmatic trials, adaptive designs, and effectiveness-implementation hybrid designs.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jordan Avery