Section 3: Degree and Equity of Participation: Communication for Social Change: An Integrated Model for Measuring the Process and Its Outcomes

Social Change Outcome Indicators

Degree and Equity of Participation

This dimension measures the range of participation to include the traditionally disenfranchised members of the larger community (e.g., women, lower class, ethnic groups, age, occupation, as related to the issue), as well as the diversity of activities which members get involved, ranging from planning, selection of leaders, decision on services and modes of delivery, resource mobilisation and management, to evaluation of programme outcomes.

Dimensions of Participation

• Access to participation, and
• Extent and level of participation.

Access to Participation

1. Existence and number of community groups that deal with the issue/programme:

Q: Is there any committee or community organisation/group dedicated to address the issue/programme problem (variable related to constraints/support) (Yes/No)?

Q: How many of these committees or community groups are there for the issue/programme?

2. Accessibility of community groups to overall community members related to the issue/programme:

Q: Do these committee(s) or community organisation(s) offer and encourage opportunities for people (related to the issue) in the community to actively participate (Yes/No)?

Q: What are the mechanisms used for encouraging participation?

Extent and Level of Participation

3. Proportion of traditionally excluded or more disadvantaged members that participate in community meetings and get involved in issue/programme activities:

Q: Do any of the following people/groups participate in any of the following activities related to issue/programme (use Matrix 5 and check if "yes" for each activity and group identified)?

Note: For more sophisticated communities that may have good record-keeping, the following indicator and corresponding question about intensity of participation may be preferable.

4. Intensity of participation in different programme activities by community members and the more disadvantaged (related to issue) in the community:

Q: How would you rate the general participation of the following people and groups in the community for each one of the listed activities (1, no participation at all, 2, little participation, 3, some participation, 4, high participation, 5, very high participation)?

Data Sources: Key informant interviews, programme records, direct observation notes.

Notes about the matrix #5:

• Local circumstances and nature of programme would determine the actual groups used in the matrix. Likewise, the activities should be adapted to the specific characteristics of the programme. We listed those that can be more relevant in general terms.
• Information from the matrix can be used to create a composite index or to obtain relevant specific indicators such as the proportion of electorates made of a particular interest group to elect community leaders.
• For the baseline information many of the activities may not be relevant, as the programme may be in the very first stages.