The Five Phases of Successful Data Analytics

This MDRC toolkit provides guidance, drawn from learning and experience, on how to use data to inform program improvements. It collects concrete strategies and practitioner-tested tools designed to advance these efforts. These materials were developed in pilot projects with local Temporary Assistance for Needy Families agencies as part of the TANF Data Collaborative (TDC).

It is organized according to the five phases of completing a data analytics project used in the TDC’s framework:

1. Laying the Groundwork
2. Accessing the Data
3. Preparing the Data
4. Analyzing the Data
5. Communicating the Results