[Keesha]

A great tip I have seen is using data visualization to capture the audience, it displays the information in a way that can be straightforward and engaging. You want people to be able to easily understand what you are telling them, and it is important to make it accessible. You also want to make it appealing, so it is not just another report with words and numbers.

[judithm]

That’s right! Depending on what platforms are available, data visualizations can be amazingly complex or simple. I lean heavily on PowerPoint although in my previous role we had access to qualitative research analysis software called MAXQDA. It is similar to NVivo, but can also do mixed methods analysis. When I was sharing research results to the agency I was working for at the time, people so appreciated the visualizations that allowed them to understand the stories in greater depth.

[Leena]

I definitely agree that the results should be presented through forms that youth gravitate towards. Some examples I have seen and used are short videos, graphic organizers, visuals and through storytelling as well if that is possible based on the results. I also believe (again depending on the content and results) having a hands on workshop could be beneficial to gain engagement and discuss critical components of the results would be beneficial.

[Baidir]

Data visualisation can be an engaging way to present findings. Infographics and interactive virtual visuals can be useful in communicating measured/gathered evidence of impact. Adding photos, videos, and personal connections to participants humanises the evaluation process, especially when the data/feedback is qualitative.

[Vib]

We use a lot of visual graphics from Canva, Prezi and PowerPoint/Excel graphs to help numerical data be more digestable for our youth participants and external partners.

[Sonya]

I have seen some evaluators use Canva to develop clean, direct, and very engaging ways to present evaluation findings.

Eval Academy (run by Three Hive Consulting), for example, has a free pre-made Canva template for logic models available here: https://www.evalacademy.com/resources/canva-design-templates-for-creating-your-own-logic-model

They also have some tips for creating chart templates: https://www.evalacademy.com/articles/chart-templates-the-time-saver-you-should-be-using

They also have some data visualization tips (which are all very much along the same lines as those presented in the YouthREX course, Using Spreadsheets in Program Evaluation), plus links to additional data viz tools and websites at the bottom: https://www.evalacademy.com/articles/7-tips-for-better-data-visualizations

EvalAcademy has more free evaluation resources available on their website, https://www.evalacademy.com/resources-collection.

They also have a free monthly newsletter that anyone can sign up for where they share a roundup of evaluation tools, resources, events, and workshops, both domestically and internationally. The sign up is at the bottom of their website.

We All Count – Project for Data Equity also has free tools and resources on their website, as well as a newsletter: https://weallcount.com/tools/

[Meera]

Something we did was to put our evaluation findings in a graph or chart format. We ask youths to fill out a feedback form which generates a graph with their responses. For example, “did you find this event was organized?” We are able to see on a pie chart how many percentage of youths said Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree or Strongly Disagree.

[Erica]

Love this idea of meeting audiences where they tend to “be” online.

[Erica]

Visualizing data can be an engaging way to present findings. Infographics and interactive virtual visuals can be effective in sharing measured/collected evidence of impact. Particularly when the data/feedback is qualitative, adding photos, videos and personal connections to participants humanizes the evaluation process.

[jayal]

In the past, my collaborators and I hosted a ‘wrap-party’– a community feast/gathering to share the work completed with podcasting project e.g. workshop delivery, groups/places engagement and outreach, some highlights, opportunity to ask questions, and also time and space to socialize, connect and build further relationships with audience, participants, stakeholders, supporters, mentors and other folks in community with similar interests/goals of working with youth and anti-racism/decolonization.

[Erica]

Such a great idea! Any opportunity to gather and share in person builds community connections.

[Caroline]

I love this idea of a “wrap-party”. Thanks for sharing this, Jayal. Do you have any tips for others interested in using a similar approach?

[Daniel]

To reach the widest variety of internal and external viewership, you
must follow your target audience to their preferred social media to hit
their demographic. For instance many younger youth are utilizing tiktok
at the moment so you would want to utilize tiktok as well so when other
youth share your evaluation findings it is being shared directly to the
age demographic you are looking for.

[Caroline]

Absolutely, Daniel. Your target audience is key! I’m still trying to learn the ins and outs of TikTok since it certainly is the popular platform for youth 🙂