Social Media and Nonprofits: Measurement
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Visualizing Connections In Data & Analyzing Information

Visualizing Connections In Data & Analyzing Information | Social Media and Nonprofits: Measurement | Scoop.it
From blog.visual.ly - November 25, 2012 3:56 PM

For many data visualization projects, information comes from a source that has already done some aggregation. This is both a blessing and a curse. Aggregation definitely simplifies the analysis and visualization process, but it can also greatly reduce the visualization and analysis options. This is because aggregation often destroys connections in data. For this reason, it's critical to have an in-depth and thorough knowledge and understanding of the information from aggregated information. There are several different visualization techniques that open up once we have the original data, such as Euler diagrams and parallel sets.


The extra information that can be obtained from visualizations is important to gaining a full understanding of the data, and it can lead to a much more interesting story, as well as far better visualizations and more accurate connections and links within those visualizations.

So, when gathering data about something, remember to dig deeper into it, as there are many important connections that happen within data that can provide knowledge beyond just a simple average or total.


To learn more about the value of these connections, sourcing accurate data, and how it is transformed into useful graphics, read the complete article and check out the case study used to convey the main points outlined above...


Via Lauren Moss
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kurakura's comment, November 15, 2012 5:17 AM
the last graph on that page is really useful for understanding the data?
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Actionable Measurement at the Gates Foundation

From www.bridgespan.org - September 9, 2012 10:37 AM

Curated by Beth Kanter

http://www.bethkanter.org


This is an interview with Jodi Nelson who is in charge of evaluation at the Gates Foundation.   


Her department works on:

1) Tools/Capacity to help program officers and partners design grants that have measurable outcomes

2) Evaluation policy to set common expectations and standards - when to do evaluation, what approaches to invest in, how much $

3) Facilitate learning from within and communicate to the outside world

4) Infrastructure to store, analyze, and contextualize evaluatoin data.


Mentions a guide published;  Guide to Actionable Measurement
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/pages/a-guide-to-actionable-measurement.aspx


"Measure strategically and to inform action—think of the question “What would you do differently if you have that data?”—actionable measurement privileges purpose over methodology or evaluation design. Purpose is about how you intend to use the information you gain from measurement to do something differently or effect some change."


Also reducing the reporting burden.


Great question:  What type of measurement helps the foundation continually improve?


Relationship measurement -- grantee perception report - getting feedback from grantees.   They have a dedicated team working on strengthening grantees realtionships.


Big learning for her:   Evaluation is more about organizational change than being a data cruncher. 


An organization can have great M&E people and expertise, as we do, but it won’t actually lead to anything unless there’s alignment up and down the organization around what enables success. Some examples include: leaders that continually ask their teams to define and plan toward measureable outcomes, consistent expectations for staff and partners about what constitutes credible evidence for decision making, executive leaders who understand and sponsor change that can be tough and take a long time, and tools and resources for staff and grantees to integrate rigorous planning and M&E into their day-to-day work.


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