Data You Can Use: Turning Anecdotes into Impact

Many professionals at a range of organizations, from small start-ups to established non-profits, would like to know the effects of their programs and tactics. But they may think they lack the capacity and know-how to collect and make sense of data.

This course helps you capture meaningful data from “on the ground” staff and provides low-budget strategies for analysis to understand your impacts.

In this course, you'll learn:

• The value of anecdotal data
• How to collect and analyze these data in a manageable and cost-effective way that addresses issues of impact

1. Getting Started - 5 minutes

   1. Meet the Experts
   2. course Objectives
   3. What Do You Already Know?

2. Developing an Evaluative Habit of Mind? - 5 minutes

   1. What is Evaluative Thinking?
   2. Client Example: The Highline

3. Anecdotes - 3 minutes 

   1. Why are Anecdotes Useful?

4. Participatory Action Research - 3 minutes

   1. Defining PAR
   2. PAR at Your Organization
   3. PAR Being Iterative

5. Qualitative and Quantitative Data - 2 minutes

   1. Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Feedback
   2. Mixed Methods

6. Determining Validity - 5 minutes

   1. Introduction to Validity
   2. Face Validity
   3. External Validity
   4. Sample Size
   5. The Bracket Challenge

7. Wrapping Up - 2 minutes

   1. What Do You Know Now?
   2. Additional Resources