A Comparative Analysis of Two Streams of Implementation Research

Authors

  • Stephen Roll The Center for Social Development Washington University in St. Louis
  • Stephanie Moulton The John Glenn College of Public Affairs The Ohio State University
  • Jodi Sandfort The Humphrey School of Public Affairs University of Minnesota

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20899/jpna.3.1.3-22

Keywords:

Comparative Analysis, Implementation Science, Policy Implementation

Abstract

Increased pressure for evidence-based practices in policymaking and administration has led to the growth of a new research stream of implementation science. Little is known about how this new stream of research compares with scholarship on policy implementation within public administration. This paper provides a comparative review of more than 1,500 journal articles on policy and program implementation published between 2004-2013. Using bibliometric analysis and a content analysis of abstracts, implementation articles within public affairs journals and in the emerging implementation science stream are analyzed in terms of their content, methods, and focus. Following a multi-level implementation framework, this analysis considers the level at which research is taking place within the different venues of implementation research. Through this systematic review, this paper provides new insights about the current state of research, opening up new avenues for scholars to substantively engage with and contribute to this important area of study.

Author Biographies

  • Stephen Roll, The Center for Social Development Washington University in St. Louis

    Stephen Roll is an assistant professor at the Center for Social Development, housed within the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on consumer finance policy and issues surrounding policy and program implementation, and he recently defended his dissertation focusing on nonprofit consumer credit counseling programs.

  • Stephanie Moulton, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs The Ohio State University

    Stephanie Moulton is an Associate Professor at the John College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University. Moulton’s research focuses on public policy implementation, evaluation and management. Moulton specializes in housing and consumer finance policy. Her research has been funded by the MacArthur Foundation, The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Fannie Mae and The Social Security Administration.  

  • Jodi Sandfort, The Humphrey School of Public Affairs University of Minnesota

    Jodi Sandfort is a Professor at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and Chair of the school’s Management and Leadership Area.  Her work focuses on improving the implementation of social policy, particularly those policies designed to support low-income children and their families. She is the co-author with Stephanie Moulton of the recent book Cultivating Effective Implementation (Jossey Bass, 2015).

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Published

2017-03-31

Issue

Section

Research Articles

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