Implementation Fidelity in Higher Education: A Scoping Review

Sarah Kirkland, Elizabeth Hinton, Carley Dear, Xiaomei Song, & Anthony Arciero   |    Volume 21 Issue 1  |   

Assessment in higher education seeks to improve program outcomes through rigorous evaluation. Implementation fidelity measures the degree to which educational interventions are carried out as planned, which is critical for ensuring program effectiveness. This scoping review investigates implementation fidelity in higher education assessment, focusing on definitions, frameworks, measurement approaches, and their integration into assessment practices. A comprehensive search strategy yielded 55 relevant articles from various databases and gray literature sources. The inclusion criteria included studies that investigated implementation fidelity in postsecondary education in the United States, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The review identifies several definitions of implementation fidelity, focusing on factors such as adherence, exposure, delivery quality, participant responsiveness, and program differentiation. Several frameworks for assessing implementation fidelity were identified, including component-based and structured models, which helped to understand intervention execution. Measurement methods ranged from traditional observations to novel approaches, including self-reports and multi-step iterative processes. Implementation fidelity shows promise in improving the quality and reliability of educational assessments in higher education. However, challenges persist, including the need for standardized definitions and validated measurement instruments. Future research should focus on refining implementation fidelity frameworks, validating measurement tools across various contexts, and integrating implementation fidelity seamlessly into assessment practices to promote continuous improvement in educational interventions.

Click here to download the full article

« Back to Archive