Innovation and Integrity in Intervention Research: Conceptual Issues, Methodology, and Knowledge Translation

Abstract

In this article, we introduce the special issue entitled Innovation and Integrity in Intervention Science. Its focus is on essential problems and prospects for intervention research examining two related topics, i.e., methodological issues and research integrity, and challenges in the transfer of research knowledge into practice and policy. The main aims are to identify how to advance methodology in order to improve research quality, examine scientific integrity in the field of intervention science, and discuss future steps to enhance the transfer of knowledge about evidence-based intervention principles into sustained practice, routine activities, and policy decisions. Themes of the special issue are twofold. The first includes questions about research methodology in intervention science, both in terms of research design and methods, as well as data analyses and the reporting of findings. Second, the issue tackles questions surrounding the types of knowledge translation frameworks that might be beneficial to mobilize the transfer of research-based knowledge into practice and public policies. The issue argues that innovations in methodology and thoughtful approaches to knowledge translation can enable transparency, quality, and sustainability of intervention research.Keywords Research methodology . Research integrity . Knowledge translation . Evidence-based intervention . Child and adolescent mental health What are current conceptual and methodological challenges and prospects in intervention research, including standards of evidence, bias, and statistical issues? What are essential approaches to knowledge translation and how can we make knowledge about children's and adolescents' development and health useful for interventions? This special issue examines central challenges and innovations in intervention research in the areas of conceptual issues and intervention theory, research methodology, and knowledge translation. It brings together scholars in the field of methodology and intervention science and highlights their work on integrity, research methodology, and knowledge translation. Why is this important? A thoughtful discussion of conceptual and methodological issues relevant in the field of intervention is timely now that prevention programs are being implemented and disseminated on a large scale, yet many methodological concerns remain, such as the problem of biases in data analyses and selective reporting of findings. In addition, the relevance and need for effective translation of research evidence into practice and policy decisions is widely acknowledged. However, there continues to be significant challenges in translating knowledge sustainably. To our knowledge, no existing publication has gathered together a group of international scholars from different disciplines to discuss conceptual and methodological challenges and prospects, as well as innovations in integrating research evidence into practice and policy.The first theme of the special issue focuses on current methodological and concep...