Topic 5: How to Interpret Data

Even more important than being able to collect data is how to interpret the data you collect. This will vary depending on what you are looking for. Before interpreting any data collected, you must understand for whom and for what purpose you are analyzing this information. At times, interpreting data may be overwhelming.

To help sort out your collected information, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What do we want to do with the information collected?
   
   • Are you looking to change, alter, or add to programming opportunities? Are you looking to become more inclusive to welcome more patrons into the library? Or, are you looking for ways to provide greater opportunities and resources for people with autism and their families? Your purpose can be broad or extremely specific. Depending on your answer, you may be looking for different information in the data you collected.
2. For whom is this information inteneded?
   • Are you looking to improve service for a specific population of people? Or, are you looking to improve the library environment as a whole? If looking to improve services for people with autism and their families, you may want to pay closer attention to personal testimonies and surveys completed by that specific group of patrons.
3. Do any common trends appear?
   • When looking through the data collected look at common trends that appear. Does the same issue or related issue appear more than once? Are there any comments or questions on similar services, programs, or physical access points? Do patrons have common suggestions or ideas that they believe would improve the library?
4. What is Working?
   • Sometimes the best way to improve a program, service, or institution as a whole is to look at what is working. What do patrons like or appreciate? How could this be built upon? The answer may not be to abolish a program or service, but rather to extend it and make it more inclusive and effective based on the needs of patrons in your community.