Data Placemats: A Facilitative Technique Designed to Enhance Stakeholder Understanding of Data

Abstract

This chapter introduces data placemats, a facilitative technique that occurs during the analysis stage of an evaluation that is designed to enhance stakeholder understanding of evaluation data. Data placemats display thematically grouped data designed to encourage stakeholder interaction with collected data and to promote the cocreation of meaning under the facilitative guidance of the evaluator. Each placemat represents the data using visual elements such as charts, graphs, and quotes and draws on best practices of data and information display to format these elements. During the process, evaluators guide stakeholders to a mutual understanding of information contained in the data placemats. This chapter provides guidance on when, why, and how to use data placemats to enhance the overall sense-making of data and explores the connection between effective facilitation and successful implementation of this technique.