IMPLEMENTATION- A PART OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT

THE OBSERVATION IS MADE THAT MUCH GOOD RESEARCH RESULTS ARE WASTED BECAUSE RESEARCH IS OFTEN HELD TO END BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION BEGINS. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN TWO WAYS TO BRIDGE THIS GAP: ONE IS TO BRING THE PRACTITIONER INTO THE RESEARCH PROJECT; AND THE OTHER IS TO MAKE IMPLEMENTATION A PART OF THE RESEARCH AND CHARGE THE RESEARCHER TO INVADE THE FIELD OF PRACTICE. (IT MAKES HIM A BETTER RESEARCHER). THE USE OF THESE METHODS BY THE TEXAS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT AND THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE HAS INDICATED THAT THE SUCCESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE RESEARCH IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF FIELD PERSONNEL IN THE CONDUCT OF THE RESEARCH. MAKING IMPLEMENTATION A PART OF RESEARCH IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE FUNDING PROCEDURES ISOLATE RESEARCH FROM PRACTICE. THE RESEARCH CYCLE IS BRIEFLY REVIEWED. AFTER EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION, THE FINDINGS SHOULD BE FED BACK FOR REFINEMENT OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY. IMPORTANT FACTORS IN IMPLEMENTATION ARE THE REVIEW AND APPRAISAL OF RESEARCH FINDINGS. ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS MAY OCCUR IN APPLICATION OF FINDINGS IN REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS BUT THE RESEARCHER MAY NEVER KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS. A MECHANISM MUST BE PROVIDED FOR ENSURING THAT THE RESEARCHERS' EXPERTISE BE AVAILABLE TO THE PRACTIONER DURING THE REVIEW AND APPRAISAL PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION. IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE COMPLETE RESEARCH CYCLE.