Table of Contents >
   Part F. Analyzing Community Problems and Designing and Ad... >
      Chapter 17. Analyzing Community Problems and Solutions >
         Section 1. An Introduction to the Problem Solving Process >
             Tools & Checklists - A checklist that summarizes the major points contained in the section. >


An Introduction to the Problem Solving Process

  

Tools & Checklists

Contributed by Jenette Nagy and Catie Heaven Edited by Jerry Schultz and Kate Nagy

Tools

Tool #1: Problem analysis sheet
Tool #2: Components and Elements Background Table
Tool #3: Table of Components and Elements
Tool #4: Determining if interventions done by others are appropriate for your purpose and situation

Checklist


Tool #1: Problem analysis sheet

The following page gives you room to analyze the problem or issue you want your group to address. This information can then be used when you go to step 7 in the "how-to's": Set goals and objectives.

Problem Analysis Sheet

What factors put people at risk for (or protect them against) the problem or concern?




Whose behavior (or lack of behavior) caused the problem?




Whose behavior (or lack of behavior) maintains the problem?




For whom is the situation a problem?




What are the negative consequences for those directly affected?




What are the negative consequences for the community?




Who, if anyone, benefits from things being the way they are now?




How do they benefit?




Who should share the responsibility for solving the problem?




What behaviors need to change to consider the problem "solved"?




What conditions need to change to address the issue or problem?




How much change is necessary?




At what level(s) should the problem be addressed?




Will you be able to make changes at the level(s) identified?




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Tool #2: Components and Elements Background Table

Use this table to look holistically at the intervention you will develop.


Providing Information and Skills Training

Enhancing Support

Problem/ Issue to be Addressed





Risk/ Protective Factors





Targets of Change





Agents of Change





Components





Elements





Mode/ Context of Delivery





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Tool # 3: Table of Components and Elements

You can fill in this table to look at all of the components and elements that will be done as a part of your intervention. By filling this out, you can see if there are any gaps in your plan that need to be filled in. (For example, if your plan doesn't have any elements related to providing information and skills training, that gap will be very apparent on this table.)


Providing Information and Skills Training

Enhancing Support and Resources

Modifying Opportunities and Barriers

Monitoring and feedback

Components

















Elements



















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Tool # 4: Determining if interventions done by others are appropriate for your purpose and situation

Use this table to help you determine if a particular intervention you know about is right for your purpose and situation.

What is the intervention?

Is it appropriate for our purpose?





Is it effective?




Is it replaceable?




Is it simple?




Is it practical?




Is it compatible to our situation?




Additional comments:




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Checklist

___You understand that an intervention can be a program, a change in policy, or a practice that becomes popular.

___You understand that interventions focus on people's behaviors, and how changes in the environment can support those behaviors.

___You understand the advantages of developing interventions.

___You understand when you should develop or redesign interventions.


Developing the intervention:

___You have decided what needs to happen.

___You have used a measurement system to gather information about the level of the problem.

___You have decided whom the intervention needs to help.

___You have involved potential clients or end users of the intervention.

___With these clients, you have identified the issues or problems you will attempt to solve together.

___You have analyzed these problems or the issue to be addressed in the intervention.

___You have set goals and objectives.

___You have learned what others have done.

___You have brainstormed your own ideas.

___You have tried to decide what interventions or parts of interventions have worked, and what might be applicable to your situation.

___You have identified barriers and resistance you might come up against.

___You have identified core components and elements of the intervention.

___You have developed an action plan to carry out the intervention.

___You have pilot-tested your intervention.

___You have implemented your intervention.

___You are constantly monitoring and evaluating your work.

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