TREATMENT INTEGRITY OF SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION STUDIES -1980-1990

Treatment integrity (the degree to which a treatment is implemented as planned) represents a key concept in school-based intervention and is considered to be a link between use and effectiveness of intervention s. Its demonstration represents one of the most important aspects of b oth scientific as well as as practical applications of interventions i n school settings. A total of 181 experimental studies published betwe en 1980-90 in seven journals known for behaviorally based intervention s was reviewed. Of primary interest was whether or not integrity was a ssessed, the degree of treatment integrity, operational definitions of treatments, and effect sizes produced by interventions. Only 14.4% (2 6 studies) systematically measured and reported integrity data; only 3 4% (65 studies) operationally defined treatments. Moderate positive co rrelations were found between degree of treatment integrity and level of treatment outcome. Recommendations for future research and practice centered on operational definition of treatments, measurement of trea tment integrity, and alternative methods for assessing treatment integ rity.