Analyzing the Problem 

Watch the webinar to learn more about this phase. 

• What is it?  A guiding document with norms for reviewing data. 

• What does it do?  The Data Equity Lens helps think, respond, and act on data in a manner that supports equitable and inclusive thought and action. 

• Why use it?  To ground conversations about data collection. 

• What is it? The data protocol is a tool you can use to help guide group conversations around data.

• What does it do? Positions you to have conversations around data that are rooted in equity; allows you to unpack results; and positions you to interpret results equitably so that we are not reinforcing stereotypes or harmful biases or limiting how we see and talk about students. 

• Why use it? To capture data 

• What is it? A map of the problem you are trying to tackle.

• What does it do? Helps dissect a problem by identifying five or six major “bones”—the primary causes of the problem—with three to five smaller bones, or underlying causes, extending from each.

• Why use it? To capture the experiences of a team of people who know a problem well.

• What is it? A map of the problem you are trying to tackle.

• What does it do? Helps dissect a problem by identifying five or six major “bones”—the primary causes of the problem—with three to five smaller bones, or underlying causes, extending from each.

• Why use it? To capture the experiences of a team of people who know a problem well.

• What is it? Short targeted surveys.

• What does it do? “Takes the pulse” of a school community by gathering information about how members understand the problem and its causes.

• Why use it? To gather insights from a large group—more than 15 but less than 50 people.

• What is it? A study that involves spending time with your “users”—usually students—and gathering observational notes, interviews, photos, and other internal documents. Empathy mapping involves two steps:

  1. collect data about the problem focus area

  2. combine your findings in an empathy map.

• What does it do? Helps us understand the problem from the users’ perspective, uncover our own assumptions, and identify blind spots that can prevent us from understanding students’ holistic experience at school.

• Why use it? Empathy mapping enables new insights into “big picture” problems. It helps us step into the experience of our students, and understanding otherwise hidden factors that affect them.

After analyzing your problem, use the Analysis Tool Selector to decide which tool(s) to use. The tool features six questions about the following:

• time constraints

• team perspectives

• the student perspective

• visualizing the problem

• experience with research questions

• gathering multiple voices

Once you’ve answered each question, tally your marks and select the tool you’ve circled the most.

• What is it? An analysis tool to help your team consolidate your learning about a large problem, so you can focus on a part of the problem that is within your power to address.

• What does it do? Helps teams decide if they are ready to transition from analyzing a problem to crafting solutions to solve it.

• Why use it? This tool will lead you to creating and finalizing your problem statement, which is necessary to move on to Phase 2: Creating a Theory of Improvement.