Methodology
This learning study sought to take a snapshot of processes, projects, and products from sixteen different grants in eight different countries from the Open Society Foundations (OSF) Think Tank Fund (TTF) and Information Program (IP) data visualization portfolio, which ran from 2010 to the present (mid-2013). The portfolio includes a number of grants still to be finalized, which has meant that different information and insights are available for different grants. Accordingly, the researchers made an effort to capture and focus on those experiences and trends that appeared most relevant for reflection on program outcomes as well as future programming considerations. In order to do this, the study used desk review of relevant project documents, semi-structured interviews with the organizations and a set of external actors, and a content analysis review of the products. The two researchers traveled to four different countries during May 2013 and met directly with 10 of the 16 organizations covered in the study. These included meetings in Budapest, Bratislava, Sarajevo, and Skopje. Each of these meeting typically lasted between one and two hours and often included additional time for meeting with technical staff or colleagues tasked with designing and managing the data visualization projects/sites. In addition, while in Budapest, the researchers met with TTF and IP staff for further debriefing on the grants and the program.
In each country, the two researchers also met with a number of external actors to better understand how the products were perceived, used, and spread, and the relative level of data visualization efforts present in the country. Interlocutors included journalists, government officials, and other NGO and donor colleagues. Upon return home, the researchers conducted Skype interviews with the remaining organizations as well as several follow-up conversations with organizations met during the field visits. In total, the researchers had 24 in-person meetings and conducted nine Skype meetings. Please see Appendix A for a list of meeting informants. The two researchers made notes and sketches of each meeting, and as part of the reflection process went over main trends and conclusions as they traveled. Upon return, each reviewed her notes and outlined key ideas for the report and engaged in further exchange of ideas and concept development. The lead researcher drafted the narrative report with a main focus on organizational processes and impacts; this was supplemented by the data visualization specialist’s analysis of the products and their utility. The data visualisation specialist took the lead in crafting a visual depiction of the findings. The researchers wish to thank all of those that contributed their insights and time to the study. Special thanks goes to Zsofia Revay of TTF for her tireless support in making (and changing) travel arrangements during a project requiring intense travel.
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