Implementation in Mathematics Education: Fidelity to Implementation Design and Fidelity to Innovation Theory

Abstract The concept of fidelity is important to the implementation of mathematics education innovations. However, viewing fidelity as only adherence to protocols and planned activities may mean that the importance of underpinning causal mechanisms or innovation theory are not attended to fully. To expand and clarify the meaning of fidelity, I consider how the constructs of fidelity and theory are used in implementation methodology, including in mathematics education implementation studies. Alongside consideration of fidelity to implementation design as adherence to planned activity, I propose that fidelity to innovation theory is also important. The construct of fidelity to innovation theory supports assessing whether adaptations in implementation are acceptable or positive. I illustrate how these complementary constructs are applicable depending on the innovation theory, the implementation path characteristics, the fidelity focus, the generative instance, and the actor and activity. The impact sheet to this article is available online at 10.6084/m9.figshare.28722908.