Contextualizing Data: Putting Your Findings Into Perspective

At EVALCORP, we’re all about using data to tell a meaningful story, and one of the most effective ways to tell a story is to show what the data mean in a broader context. For example, if your organization is presenting city-level data, then it can be really helpful to show what’s going on at the county, state, and/or national-level as well. 

Comparing your findings to what’s happening around you on a larger scale can tell you whether your regional data points/findings are unique in some respect or whether the data are on par with other local, statewide, and/or national trends. Looking at the broader context can also help highlight the impact of your efforts. 

You might find, for example, that drug use is increasing all across your county, but it’s decreasing in your city (and extensive efforts have been employed in your city to address drug use). Putting your local-level findings in the broader context can help emphasize the effectiveness of your drug intervention efforts.