Most Significant Change Technique Monitoring Tool

Submitted by valentina on Tue, 05/10/2016 - 14:13
Type: 
Interview / Qualitative interview procedure
Objectives: 
Evaluation and data monitoring
Description: 

The Most Significant Change Technique has been described as a dialogical, story-based technique for evaluation that involves the collection and participatory interpretation of “stories” about change in order to facilitate improvement of programs, policies and interventions. This is a monitoring tool that can be used for collecting information throughout the implementation process and it provides information that can be used to facilitate the on-going implementation. It also contributes to evaluation because it provides data on impact and outcomes that can be used to help assess the implementation process as a whole.

Methodological Approach: 

The Most Significant Change Technique focuses on learning rather than accountability and identifies the effect of the implementation of the Gender Action Plans on people’s lives. It has a participatory character that means that it involves different stakeholders in collecting and analyzing the data. The Most Significant Change Technique is thus also an appropriate tool to include different stakeholders in monitoring and evaluation. Since pre-set indicators do not limit The Most Significant Change Technique, storytellers are able to share unexpected changes.

Each GenderTime national team received the attached template and was asked to forward it to at least two people who had participated in any GenderTime activities or could be considered as part of the target group of such activities. The templates were filled out by these participants and submitted to the Work Package 3 leaders within approximately 2 weeks.

Benefits: 

The tool is useful for the following purposes:

  1. to collect evidence of intangible changes, like behavioural and attitudinal changes
  2. to collect information on positive and unexpected changes
  3. to strengthen the empowering effect and inclusionary practices of monitoring.
Attachments: 
PDF icon Most Significant Change Technique Tool.pdf