This research consisted of two studies. The purpose of the first study was to examine the presence and quality of fidelity of implementation as reported in recent early reading intervention research. A comprehensive search of kindergarten through third-grade reading interventions published between the years 2005 and 2011 was conducted. Articles that met the inclusion search criteria were analyzed according to fidelity dimensions. Findings from the first study indicated an increase in fidelity reporting from 2001 to 2005. Few articles, however, analyzed the relationship between fidelity of implementation and student outcomes. While there has been an increase of early reading intervention studies reporting fidelity, there is a lack of studies reporting fidelity in relation to student outcomes. Many studies are reporting multiple dimensions of fidelity, but few studies assess the program differentiation dimension. The second study was an exploratory study focused on the fidelity dimension of program differentiation as applied to two early reading interventions from an experimental study. A fidelity observation instrument was created using evidence-based reading practices. The fidelity observation instrument was then used to evaluate instructional practices, teacher responsiveness, and student engagement of an experimental and comparison reading intervention at three time points to examine program differentiation. Latent constructs were created using exploratory factor analysis and were then used to compute an effect size called the achieved relative strength index, which is the difference between two experimental conditions. Findings from the exploratory factor analysis in the second study indicated items loaded onto three latent constructs: (a) instructional practices, (b) teacher responsiveness, and (c) student engagement. The instructional practice achieved relative strength index effect size was large for the experimental group. The achieved relative strength index effect size for both teacher responsiveness and student engagement was small, indicating little difference between the two conditions. The second study in this research endeavor addressed that gap by applying the achieved relative strength index effect size to an early reading intervention study and demonstrating one way to capture program differentiation. Finally, implications for future research were addressed as part of the study.

The study is aimed at the development of a Practice Model for Private Practice Management in Social work. It is evident from the literature that no practice model for private practice management exists, peculiar to the nature and modus operandi of Social work. A further problem is that the knowledge base of Social work is often derived and adopted from other professions and disciplines to address problem areas in Social work private practice. The problem lies far deeper. The lack of a practice model for private practice management also implies the lack of guidelines on how to employ social workers within the field of private practice. Poor remuneration and socio-economic change in the external environment put financial and emotional pressure on the social worker, which causes him to leave the social work profession. With reference to the above mentioned the researcher developed a practise model for private practice management in Social work to an extend that the content nature and magnitude of private practice is being familiarised and utilised in practice through this practise model. In order to reach this goal, a theoretical frame of reference for private practice management in Social work is created, the profile of existing private practices in South Africa is explored, a practice model for private practice management is developed through the intervention research model and the developed practice model's value is evaluated through focus groups consisting of private practitioners. Interdependent herewith all relevant concepts, principles, processes and elements as components of a practice model is investigated in both the field of social work and economic and management sciences. From the economic and management science a distinction is made between aspects applicable within entrepreneurship and management to private practice management. Based on a comprehensive literature study the practice model is developed and supported by a secondary data analysis from the national databank of the South African Social Workers in Private Practice. The utilisation value of the developed model is evaluated through three separate focus groups consisting of social workers in private practice. The qualitative data analysed through this process is carefully incorporated into a final practice model. Conclusions and recommendations as a result of the research process conclude the study. Copyright 2004, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Bloem, CHM 2004, 'n Praktykmodel vir privaatpraktykbestuur in maatskaplike werk (Afrikaans), PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-12152006-111832 / > / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted