STEP 2: Data Collection

Now that you have chosen and constructed your Theory of Change, you can move on to step two of the 1-2-3 Method to identify and use data collection tools to test your theory.

The following interactive methods are perhaps even more useful when using a Theory of Change approach:

• Most Significant Change
• Focus Groups
• Quick appraisal methods such as graffiti walls & appreciation lines

Other suitable data collection techniques include:

• Key informant interviews
• Participant observation
•  Questionnaires
• Surveys (especially face-to-face surveys)

Note that there are many ways of conducting surveys, some of which cannot, for reasons of space and because of their reliance on access to the internet or telephones, are not discussed here. These include the Telephone survey, Postal survey (or questionnaire), Email survey, and web-based survey (e.g. surveymonkey). 

At this stage, the focus should be on collecting data that will help to confirm or challenge the assumptions you are making in this project and that will help to explain why as well as how change is (or is not) being brought about.

As always, step 3 will involve data checking and triangulation tools.

Once you have read through this page, move onto Step 3.