institusjonsnivå

Institusjonsnivå, literally the institutional level, is a concept used in public administration, research, and evaluation to describe the level of analysis, governance, and service delivery that concerns an individual institution—such as a hospital, school, or care facility. It is distinct from higher levels, such as regional or national, which address policy and systems rather than single institutions.

At this level, information relates to the institution's structure, management practices, routines, and resource use, as well as the outcomes and quality of services delivered within that institution. It is commonly used to assess performance, accountability, and implementation of standards at the facility level.

Data are typically drawn from the institution’s administrative records, audits, accreditation reports, staffing rosters, and client or patient outcomes observed within the facility. When aggregated, such data can produce facility-level indicators for comparison and benchmarking.

Applications include quality and safety assessments, efficiency analyses, and planning for improvements tailored to the needs of a specific institution. In research and evaluation, institusjonsnivå is often used alongside other levels (for example, person-level data or regional level) in multi-level analyses.

Advantages of the institutional level include detailed, actionable insights and the ability to target interventions. Limitations include heterogeneity among institutions, potential difficulties in comparing across facilities, privacy considerations, and the risk of ecological fallacy if conclusions are extended beyond the institution.