Information Gathering and Synthesis

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Information Gathering and Synthesis
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What do we mean by information gathering and
synthesis?

• Information gathering refers to gathering
  information about the issue youre facing and the
  ways other organizations and communities have
  addressed it.
• You can gather information using both existing
  sources and natural examples.

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What do we mean by information gathering and
synthesis?

• Synthesis here refers to analyzing what youve
  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 youre
  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.

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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.
• Its likely that most solutions arent one size
  fits all.
• It can help you ensure your program is culturally
  sensitive.
• Knowing whats 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.

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When should you gather and synthesize information?

• Information gathering and synthesis should
  continue throughout the life of the program.

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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.

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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.

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How do you gather and synthesize information?

• Determine your likely sources for the various
  types of information youre 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.
• Its 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.

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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.

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How do you gather and synthesize information?

• Collect information
• Begin synthesis by taking it all apart extract
  the functional components and elements of what
  youve learned.
• Complete synthesis by putting the relevant pieces
  back together as a coherent program that speaks
  to your communitys needs.
• Keep at it by continuing to gather and synthesize
  information throughout the life of the program.