Information Gathering and Synthesis

1. Information Gathering and Synthesis

2. What do we mean by information gathering and synthesis? • Information gathering refers to gathering information about the issue you’re facing and the ways other organizations and communities have addressed it. • You can gather information using both existing sources and natural examples.

3. What do we mean by information gathering and synthesis? • Synthesis here refers to analyzing what you’ve learned from your information gathering, and constructing a coherent program or approach by taking ideas from a number of sources and putting them together to create something that meets the needs of the community and population you’re working with. • Synthesis involves extracting the functional elements of both the analysis of the issue and approaches to it. • Functional elements are those that are indispensable either to understanding the issue, or toimplementing a particular program.

4. Why gather and synthesize information? • It will help you avoid reinventing the wheel. • It will help you to gain a deep understanding of the issue so that you can address it properly. • You need all the tools possible to create the best program you can. • It’s likely that most solutions aren’t one size fits all. • It can help you ensure your program is culturally sensitive. • Knowing what’s been done in a variety of other circumstances and understanding the issue from a number of different viewpoints may give you new insights and new ideas for your program.

5. When should you gather and synthesize information? • Information gathering and synthesis should continue throughout the life of the program.

6. Who should gather and synthesize information? • Information gathering and synthesis is often most effectively conducted by a multi-sectoral participatory group including all stakeholders in the issue.

7. How do you gather and synthesize information? • Decide what you need to know about the issue itself, successful and unsuccessful attempts to address it in various circumstances, and the local context.

8. How do you gather and synthesize information? • Determine your likely sources for the various types of information you’re seeking. • Existing sources include scholarly, mass-market, and statistical/demographic published information. • Natural sources include some published information about programs, but can best be obtained by direct contact with those involved in planning, implementing, or participating in programs relevant to your issue. • It’s important to pay attention to both successful and unsuccessful attempts to address the issue, and to step outside your own field in search of solutions that work.

9. How do you gather and synthesize information? • Devise a plan for gathering information. • Decide who will gather what information. • Decide how information will be gathered. • Decide what adjustments will be made for gaps in experience or skills. • Set a timeline for the initial information gathering.

10. How do you gather and synthesize information? • Collect information • Begin synthesis by taking it all apart – extract the functional components and elements of what you’ve learned. • Complete synthesis by putting the relevant pieces back together as a coherent program that speaks to your community’s needs. • Keep at it by continuing to gather and synthesize information throughout the life of the program.