Data Use Toolkit: Information Gathering

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Local Data and information gathering

Local Data and Information Gathering

As outlined in the Sections Data to Story, Local Sources, and National Sources of this toolkit, there are many resources available that include existing data that might be beneficial in answering questions and telling data-driven stories. Sometimes the data we need hasn’t been gathered yet, though! This is where novel data and information gathering at the local level comes into play. In this section, we will review community surveys, focus groups, observational studies, and anecdotal insights as strategies for gathering your own local data and information.

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Community surveys are a great option for gathering information from a large number of people. Surveys are composed, primarily, of close-ended questions such as multiple choice questions, checkboxes, and rating scales. Surveys allow you to easily turn information into quantitative data (e.g. numbers, percentages, weights, and other statistics). You will want to limit open-ended responses on surveys since qualitative data needs different considerations for making the data useful. Surveys can be disseminated to large numbers of people without necessarily making analysis any more complicated, making them ideal for trying to reach the broader community. Surveys can be delivered in print or electronically. Using the same survey questions over time can allow your library to track changes in things like satisfaction, awareness of services, and priorities for library services.

Recommended Resources:
RIPL Creative Survey Design Webinar
Library Research Service (LRS) – A How-To Guide for Library User Surveys

Focus groups are formal facilitated conversations with a group of people about a specific topic. Focus groups involve a series of crafted questions, sometimes called a “protocol” in more technical research terms, meant to elicit a group discussion about a specifically scoped topic. Focus groups can be recorded and transcribed for detailed qualitative analysis. This can be a great way to generate substantive quotes! Just make sure to preserve participant’s privacy by not using names or identifying information without permission. 

Recommended Resources: 
Association of Research Libraries (ARL) – Conducting Focus Group Guide
RIPL – Building Bridges: Collecting Culturally Relevant Data Webinar

Drawing from qualitative research methods, observation can be a useful tool that involves the observer watching a space and/or participating in an event and taking detailed notes to document the observation in some consistent manner. Observation can be helpful when making changes to physical spaces to see how people are navigating and interacting with the space. Observation could also be used in analyzing something like programming to formally note how people are interacting and experiencing an event.

Recommended Resources:
Madison Public Library – Observation Deck
RIPL – Building Bridges: Collecting Culturally Relevant Data Webinar

When it comes to anecdotal qualitative information (e.g. long-form text quotes, etc.), you want to first, remember that it is anecdotal in nature and, therefore, not representative of anything other than that specific individual anecdote. Even if it resonates with you, anecdotal information should only be used when paired with other, more representative data that you have access to or have gathered. For example, consider using an anecdotal quote from a survey to contextualize and frame more quantitative data that you have gathered on a topic. Meaningful anecdotes from patrons and other groups can humanize quantitative data that you have gathered when paired together and can be very helpful in using data for storytelling.