Kylie Hutchinson on I’m Dreaming of a Data Party

My name is Kylie Hutchinson and I’m an independent evaluator and owner of Community Solutions Planning & Evaluation. Each year, I adapt a Christmas carol to share with my colleagues and clients.

Seasons greetings, and enjoy!

I’m Dreaming of a Data Party

(sung to the tune of “White Christmas”)

I’m dreaming of a data party

Intended users need to know

How the e-valu-ation

Gives a recommendation

To help their program thrive and grow

[chorus]

I’m dreaming of some sense-making

A time par-ti-ci-pa-to-ry

May your stakeholders be cheerful, and bright

And may all your sessions give insight

I’m dreaming of a data party

To get their input, oh so wise

Get their buy-in, no confusion

On the results and conclusion

When outcomes, go before their eyes

[chorus]

I’m dreaming of some data placemats

So they can play with their findings

Give it all consideration

And help with interpretation

See what, suggestions that it brings

[chorus]

I’m going to seek consen-sus

I know there might be some debate

And perhaps a few surprises

But we’ll see just what arises

‘Cause people, support what they create

I’m dreaming of some sense-making

A time par-ti-ci-pa-to-ry

May your stakeholders be cheerful, and bright

And may all your sessions give insight

Lesson Learned: Evaluation is a hard word to rhyme with. E-val-u-a-tion – five syllables! Even a word like Bethlehem has only three! No wonder we’re researchers and not poets.Hutchinson2

Hot Tip: Facilitating data parties (a.k.a. sense-making sessions, results briefings, and participatory data analysis) is a great skill to include in your evaluator’s toolbox. 

Rad Resource: You’ll find additional Christmas carols from previous years on my website.

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