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 ___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 to implementing a particular program 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 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 When should you gather and synthesize information? ___Information gathering and synthesis should continue throughout the life of the program 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 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 ___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 ___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 ___Collect information ___Begin synthesis by taking it all apart – extract the functional 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
