How do you track social change indicators?

2 How to select social change indicators?

The selection of social change indicators depends on several factors, such as your campaign goals, your target audience, your theory of change, your budget, and your data sources. You should choose indicators that are relevant, realistic, reliable, and valid. A good way to start is to use a logic model or a results framework to map out your campaign inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts, and then identify indicators for each level. You should also consider the SMART criteria, which means that your indicators should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

3 How to collect and analyze data?

Once you have selected your indicators, you need to plan how to collect and analyze data to track them. You should decide on the methods, tools, sources, frequency, and responsibility for data collection and analysis. You should also ensure that you have a clear and consistent definition and measurement of your indicators, and that you follow ethical and quality standards for data collection and analysis. Some common methods and tools for data collection are surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, audits, records, or sensors. Some common methods and tools for data analysis are descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, content analysis, thematic analysis, or network analysis.

4 How to communicate your results?

The final step is to communicate your results to your stakeholders, such as your funders, partners, beneficiaries, or policymakers. You should tailor your communication to the needs and preferences of your audience, and use clear and concise language, visuals, and stories to convey your message. You should also highlight the key findings, implications, and recommendations of your data analysis, and show how your results contribute to social change. Some common formats and channels for communication are reports, presentations, infographics, dashboards, blogs, podcasts, or social media.

5 Why track social change indicators?

Tracking social change indicators is important for several reasons. It can help you monitor and evaluate your campaign performance and impact, and identify what works and what doesn't. It can also help you improve your campaign design and implementation, and adjust your strategies and tactics as needed. Moreover, it can help you demonstrate your accountability and credibility, and justify your investment and resources. Finally, it can help you share your learnings and best practices, and inspire others to join or support your cause.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?