Brainstorming for data source identification is a structured group creativity technique that brings together diverse participants to generate a wide range of ideas about where and how to find relevant data for a specific analytical policy problem. Facilitated sessions encourage participants to build on each other’s suggestions, explore both conventional and unconventional sources, and use visual tools like mind maps or affinity diagrams to organize and expand upon the ideas generated. By deferring judgment and fostering an open, collaborative environment, brainstorming helps uncover data sources that may otherwise be overlooked, ensuring a more comprehensive and innovative foundation for policy analysis. This process not only stimulates creative thinking but also enables teams to quickly surface, evaluate, and prioritize potential data sources, supporting evidence-based decision-making.

Example Plan

Snowballing is a simple process of expanding the zone of contacts through initial contacts. The process begins by identifying an initial group of data stakeholders, hopefully those who are already involved in the preliminary stages of the process. These actors or participants are then asked to identify those individuals whom they feel should be involved in the data discovery process as well. This is the “first-order” zone. The researcher then proceeds to contact those actors (whether individuals or groups) and proceeds to have these “second-order” actors, further identify others who they think would have an interest in the project or process (Wasserman and Faust, 1994: 34; see also Goldenberg, 1992; Babbie, 1998; Doreian and Woodward, 1992).

Example Plan