Implementation-related research in mathematics education: the search for identity

Implementation has always been a paramount concern of mathematics education, but only recently has the conceptualizing and theorizing work on implementation as a phenomenon begun in our field. In this survey paper, we conduct a hermeneutic review of mathematics education research identified as related to the implementation problematics. The first cycle of the review is based on examples of studies published in mathematics education journals during the last 40 years. It is organized according to five reasons for developing implementation research. The second cycle concerns 15 papers included in this special issue and is organized by four themes, as follows: objects of implementation, stakeholders in implementation, implementation vs. scaling up, and implementability of mathematics education research. The paper is concluded with a refined glossary of implementation-related terms and suggestions for future research.