Calling all stakeholders: group-level assessment (GLA)-a qualitative and participatory method for large groups

Area of Science:

• Evaluation Science
• Participatory Research Methods
• Qualitative Data Analysis

Background:

• Group-level assessment (GLA) is a qualitative, participatory method for collaborative data generation and evaluation.
• It involves stakeholders to develop participant-driven data and actionable plans.
• GLA is applicable across various evaluation purposes and settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the methodological development and process of conducting Group-level assessment (GLA).
• To illustrate the diverse applications of GLA across the evaluation spectrum.
• To highlight learnings from GLA's wide applicability with different group types and sizes.

Main Methods:

• GLA is a seven-step process: climate setting, generating, appreciating, reflecting, understanding, selecting, and action.
• It brings large groups together to build a common database by identifying needs, judgments, and priorities.
• The method emphasizes collaborative data generation and interactive evaluation.

Main Results:

• The article details the GLA methodology and its practical implementation.
• Exemplars demonstrate GLA's nuances when working with diverse groups.
• Learnings from wide applicability are elaborated.

Conclusions:

• Group-level assessment (GLA) is a robust and adaptable method for stakeholder engagement in data generation and action planning.
• Its participatory nature ensures relevance and validity across various evaluation contexts.
• The described process and exemplars provide guidance for effective GLA implementation.