The most commonly used techniques for primary data collection include:
• One-to-one interviews
• Record keeping (such as case files)
• Focus groups
• Workshops and seminars
• Questionnaires (face-to-face, over the phone, in the post, on the Internet).
A common question is how big the sample of your clients should be. There is no hard
and fast rule here. If you work with twenty young people, you should try and speak
to all of them. If you work with thousands of people, you should use a representative
sample and statistical tests to support your arguments. If this is not feasible it is
recommended that you choose a sample size that you feel is defensible and within
your budget. See the sources of further information in the Resources section (page 80)
for help in calculating sample sizes and for drawing conclusions from samples.
Stag
Finding relevant data can be difficult, so use the best available information or make
Stag
assumptions or estimates. Do not worry about not being able to collect every piece of
e data. You may even conclude that it would be best to go back to Stage 1 and redefine e

your scope until more resources are available and organisational priorities permit.

Remember that in order to be transparent you will need to explain what you have used.
The table below gives you some examples of collecting outcomes data for a
community-based employment-mentoring programme.
Stakeholder Outcome Indicator Data Collection
Unemployed Gains and Whether in work Annual postal
person maintains after 12 months survey of
employment stakeholders and
telephone follow up
Participant with Reduced social Frequency of social Gathered
physical disability isolation contact with friends systematically at
six month review
between client and
worker
Young person Improved behaviour Number and type of Report by teacher
school exclusions
Local authority Increase in recycling Amount of waste Monitoring of
going to landfill change in amount
of waste
Local community Reduced fear of Number of local Home Office crime
crime people who report mapping tool
feeling safer
A guide to Social Return on Investment 1
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