Intervention skills

The Learner's Guide for Introduction to gathering information

Learner's Guide

Main slide set

Course video

Answer slide set

Main course

Please complete this feedback form and email it to us.

Feedback form

Course feedback

This is a short course which introduces some key concepts, theory and method related to information gathering. There is a focus on how to use information within your systems thinking practice, in interventions and change projects.It is one of three courses relating to information and data<ul><li>Introduction to Information Gathering</li><li>Assessment and Evaluation</li><li>Intervention Data Analysis</li></ul>Information underpins understanding, individual and collective, and this is critical to Systems Thinking methodology or intervention. Practitioners need to consider how information affects mental models, decisions, and movement in any system. This is not a systems thinking methodology, but it is an area that practitioners need to be comfortable with.We will look at context and purpose, some definitions and theory, approaches, effects, risks and challenges.You will consider the context – information in systems thinking practice, and what that means for:<ul><li>Participative, systemic enquiry</li><li>Definitions of Information, Data, Knowledge, Understanding…</li><li>Types of data and information</li><li>Analysis, synthesis</li><li>Ways to enquire</li><li>Challenges and risks</li><li>Uncertainty and unknowability</li></ul>Examples and case studies come from real- world situations. The concepts and techniques can be readily applied to projects and interventions in your work.ObjectivesBy the end of this session you should understand:<ul><li>The role of information in socio-technical systems and..</li><li>...where information fits into systems thinking practice.</li><li>qualitative vs quantitative data</li><li>how to think about stakeholders when gathering information and..</li><li>…some practical paths for gathering information from a range of stakeholders.</li><li>the importance of sense-making, uncertainty, and holding space.</li><li>Risks around bias and of over-attachment to particular, pre-determined or expected outcomes.</li></ul>TrainerThis course is delivered by Aidan Loughran, (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-loughran-372ba513/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-loughran-372ba513/</a>).This material is Copyright and should not be used without discussions with the trainer.

This "half day" course - Introduction to gathering information - is  one of the Data & Information course in our intervention skills course set.  Other courses can be accessed vie the sytemspractice.org website.

Introduction to gathering information

Systems Thinking practitioner

Course Details

Course content