Using Data to Shed the Cloak of Invisibility

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Since time immemorial we have been fascinated by the power of invisibility. Plato used the “Ring of Gyges” to wrestle with the ethical and moral dilemmas it poses. Just think of H.G. Wells’ “Invisible Man”, Tolkien’s One-Ring, or Harry Potter’s Cloak of Invisibility.  Does invisibility free us from moral obligations, and if we possessed this power would we become corrupted
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No Data? No Voice, No Idea – The Importance of Data

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The collection and analysis of data must never be allowed to fall by the wayside – it’s a founding stone, not a ‘nice to have’. Of course, I would say that, wouldn’t I? But here are six concrete reasons why data is important, drawing on Get the Data’s recent work with the Advice Services Alliance (ASA) as a case study.
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Choosing a Database? Just Keep It Simple

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When choosing a database for your project or programme, made to measure software or flashy online tools aren’t necessarily the right choice. If you’re going to gather and analyse data in a serious way of course you need a database of some sort and, having spent much of my academic and professional career buried in them, I’m very much an advocate.
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Hallmarks of a Good Evaluation Plan Part 1 – Introduction & Relevance

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When a potential funder glances at your application for a grant will they see reassuring signs of quality or something that immediately makes them wary? When an antique collector finds what they suspect is a piece of fine English silverware they flip it over and look for a set of hallmarks – simple indicators that certify the metal, identify the maker, the place of production, and the
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