Validating your interpretations
- Nicole Mc Neilly
What does it mean and why do we do it?Â
It is good practice to validate your interpretations with those who are affected by it or whose efforts have helped, in some way or another, to shape it. This could be someone who you interviewed; a partner in the project; your director or senior leadership; or your colleague who is responsible for the project. Validation means that someone has an opportunity to reflect on your interpretations, to check it makes sense, to give feedback, and to help you shape your narrative or to improve how you present the data.Â
WHO
Who did you collect data from?Â
Who has been involved in the project or the data collection?Â
Who could help you analyse the data or critique your interpretations? Might someone have more contextual knowledge than you do?
WHY
Validate or challenge your interpretations of the data and the broader narrative you have constructed
Double check your approach and perspectives
Informs you of anything that you should be careful of, e.g. sensitivities or politics
Fresh perspective and new insight adds richness to the narrative
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Tip.
Plan your validation phase in advance. Think about who needs to see the data and when. Leave enough time for everyone to give their feedback. You don’t want to rush this stage, and it can often take longer than you think. You might need to respond to clarification questions or go through several rounds of feedback.