Part II Collecting and analysing data Try to sketch out the scope, scale and geographic coverage of the data that you plan to collect. In particular, ask yourself: • What sort of data would your audience find credible? • Can you collect it? • What do you hope they will do with it? • Will the scale at which you are working enable you to cover the issue usefully? • Are you allowing enough time and resources to test things out? • Are you collecting data as a “one off” or over a longer-term period? Another consideration is how to store the data you collect, particularly when it comes from primary sources. Digital security is an increasing concern for many organizations. If you store information on a computer, what measures will you take to ensure it is only available to the right people and does not fall into the wrong hands? If you are collecting data from individuals, what measures will you take to protect their identities and the substance of the material they give you? 5.5. IN PRACTICE: IDENTIFYING EVIDENCE NEEDED Preparing a research plan, which sets out a roadmap or blueprint for your research, will help you identify the data you need and how you will get it, within the limitations of what is feasible for your NHRI. To develop a research plan, ask yourself the following questions: • What information do you need? You should be able to answer this based on the indicators identified in your research matrix. • What information exists and where can you look for it? Where to look for secondary data will be discussed further in Chapter 6. • What information does not exist and how can you generate it? Methods for generating primary data will be discussed further in Chapter 7. • How will you safely store the information you have collected? What digital security protocols does your NHRI have? • Who will do the research? Does your NHRI have the capacity to find secondary data or about generate primary data? Are you able to analyse and understand the data you collect? If so, who can be assigned what tasks? If not, who can you ask to assist (e.g. consultants, academic partners)? Are there colleagues who are focal points on particular issues (e.g. gender, persons with disabilities) that should be involved in the research? • What is the timeframe? It is important to set a clear timeframe to finish your data-collection phase and begin your analysis phase, otherwise research can become a never-ending process. If, after you start your analysis, you discover that you need more data, you can always conduct additional research. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. Find an example of how your NHRI has used data in its monitoring activities. What kind of data was used? What was it used to show? 2. Find an example of a monitoring activity that your NHRI conducted where you think data could have been used better. How would data have better contributed to achieving the objectives of the activity? Chapter 5: The role of data in monitoring economic, social and cultural rights | 57