Use of diffusion of innovations theory to drive a federal agency's program evaluation

This article provides the conceptual framework for the Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs) evaluation project. The diffusion of innovations theory is used as the theoretical foundation to understand and assess the development and dissemination of TIPs. The article introduces the TIP series and reviews the relevant literature. Diffusion theory is summarized and an explanation of how the theory was used to create a model of the TIPS diffusion process is made. Finally, the article discusses how the TIPs diffusion model was used to structure the Studies conducted under the TIPs evaluation project. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.