Treatment integrity is the degree to which an intervention is implemented as intended. Fidelity, including accuracy and consistency to the independent variable or intervention, is important so that changes in the dependent variable can be attributed to the intervention. Treatment integrity helps ensure that the treatment was carried out the way it was designed. This entry describes the importance of treatment integrity, how it can be measured, influences on treatment integrity, and how it can be improved.

Many authors have noted how treatment integrity is complex and multidimensional, thus difficult to adhere to, measure, and report. Social science and specifically teacher-implemented interventions have a high risk of treatment integrity lapses due to the nature and variability of classrooms. Lack of adherence to treatment integrity during implementation ...