Mapping the Active Ingredients and Mechanisms of Change of a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention Using Mixed Methods

Limited research has examined the active ingredients and mechanisms of change of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs). The present study used an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to develop a comprehensive Theory of Change of Project ImPACT, an empirically supported NDBI. We used qualitative data from interviews with intervention experts (n = 10), community providers (n = 22), and caregivers (n = 12) to develop a comprehensive causal model of the intervention process. We then tested select paths of the causal model using path analyses with an archival dataset (n = 92). The causal model described how developmental techniques aimed at supporting children's attention and engagement lay the foundation for more adult-directed learning opportunities and subsequent child skill growth. However, hypothesized causal relationships were not supported by our quantitative analyses. In the future, this research can be used to develop and prioritize nuanced research questions related to the timing, optimization, and mechanistic process underlying NDBIs.

Automated summary

This study used a mixed-methods design to develop a comprehensive theory of change for a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI). The qualitative data from interviews were used to develop a causal model, and path analyses were conducted to test select paths of the model. However, the quantitative analyses did not support all of the hypothesized causal relationships.