“I feel that the greatest reward for doing
is the opportunity to do more.”
— Jonas Salk

Part 6: Interpreting the Data

During evaluation planning, you should have identified what you wanted to evaluate, how you would collect the data, and how you planned to make it useful. This information can help you make important changes in your program. As you know from data collection, the challenge is not getting enough information, but putting the formation into usable, accessible, and understandable summaries and reports that add to the body of knowledge about your project.1
 

So, how do you create meaning from numbers? And how do you compile thoughts and opinions into recommendations for change that will convince your board, staff, participants, and funders? If you are not organized and systematic in your approach, this process can be involved and lead to dubious results. Here are some guidelines for making this process simple and meaningful.

Click on each for more.

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1. Source: Health Canada. (1996). Analysing and interpreting data. In: Guide to project evaluation: A participatory approach. Ottawa: Minister of Health & Welfare Canada.