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The Theory–Practice Issue in Policy Implementation Research
Abstract
Applying implementation theory to practice has been rare. Reasons include the difficulty of the theoretical challenge, the varied needs of practitioners and the complicating normative issues at stake. Nonetheless, several approaches can contribute to the efficacy of implementation action. Building on points of theoretical consensus is one strategy. A second is the systematic probing of points in theoretical dispute, to sketch out practical implications. A third is the development of a contingency perspective to determine which theoretical strands may be appropriate in a given case. Finally, tapping the emerging ideas built on a synthesis of partial perspectives is ultimately likely to be the most useful approach. New methodological tools can help select out valid high‐performing instances for systematic inspection and possible emulation. And some of the synthetic perspectives now available are amenable to heuristic application; these include approaches based upon reversible logic, game‐theoretic notions and contextual interaction theory.
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“This reflects the way implementation is often dependent on the joint actions of large numbers of semi-autonomous actors, each having their own interests, agendas and views, that may or may not be in line with the policy mandate.The implementation process can therefore be very complex, highly unpredictable and full of uncertainty ( O'Toole, 2004).”
From Mind the implementation gap? Police reform and local policing in the Netherlands and Scotland (2015) · cites this paper as O'Toole, 2004
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Cited by
What happens on the ground: Persistent issues in implementation research
Hupe, P. (2014) · Public Policy and Administration · doi:10.1177/0952076713518339 · Cited by 146
Mind the implementation gap? Police reform and local policing in the Netherlands and Scotland
Terpstra, J., & Fyfe, N. R. (2015) · Criminology & Criminal Justice · doi:10.1177/1748895815572162 · Cited by 66
Metadata
- Authors
- O'toole, L. J.
- Venue
- Public Administration
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-05-19
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 309-329
- ISSN
- 0033-3298 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9299
- OpenAlex
- W1973418539
- Cited by
- 235
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 21.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Public Administration (publishedVersion)
- University of Twente Research Information (publishedVersion)
- University of Twente Research Information (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policy Transfer and Learning
- Keywords
- policy implementation, implementation theory, theory-practice gap, contingency perspective, theoretical synthesis, game-theoretic analysis, contextual interaction theory, reversible logic
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