DATA: Defined
The Data Analysis Framework is an easy-to-use tool designed to help legal services organizations identify data patterns, gain valuable insights into client needs, and generate new ideas to improve and expand their services.
Data Questions
There are an infinite number of data questions that can be asked about your organization’s clients, their legal needs, and the services you provide. Review these 5 fundamental, high-level questions and the related, detailed sub-questions to figure out which question or questions you need answered.
Who is eligible?
Generally, what are the characteristics of the people who live in my organization’s service area and have income below my organization’s poverty limit?
- Detailed Sub-Question Examples:
- How many people are eligible, and what are their demographics?
- Are there specific vulnerable populations (defined by demographics) that make up a significant share of the eligible population? How do these populations compare to or overlap with each other?
- How have the number, demographics, and representation of specific vulnerable populations among eligible people changed over time?
- Where do eligible people live, including those with different demographics or from specific vulnerable populations?
- How does the geographic distribution of eligible people compare to ineligible (higher income) people? Does the concentration of eligible populations align with that of specific vulnerable groups?
Who requests assistance?
Generally, what are the characteristics of the people who request assistance from my organization (those for whom we conduct prescreens and/or intakes)?
- Detailed Sub-Question Examples:
- How many people request assistance from my organization, and what are their demographics?
- How many people from specific vulnerable populations or with certain legal problems request assistance?
- How do people request assistance (e.g., telephone, online, clinics, walk-in)?
- What outside organizations refer clients to my organization?
- How do the demographics, referral sources, or intake methods vary for different legal problems?
- How do the number and characteristics of people requesting assistance compare to the eligible population in my service area?
- How have the number, demographics, and legal needs of people requesting assistance changed over time?
- How have referral sources and intake methods changed over time?
- Where do people requesting assistance live, and how does this vary by demographics, legal problems, or intake methods?
- Does the geographic distribution of intakes align with the eligible population or specific demographics in my service area?
Who do we help?
Generally, what are the characteristics of the people my organization serves and those it rejects?
- Detailed Sub-Question Examples:
- How many people does my organization help/serve, and what are their demographics?
- How many people from specific groups (e.g., vulnerable populations) or with certain legal problems are helped/served?
- How many people is my organization unable to help?
- How do the number and demographics of people served compare to the demographics of the eligible population?
- How do the legal problems of people served and people rejected vary, especially for specific groups?
- How have the number, demographics, and legal problems of people served and people rejected changed over time?
- Where do the people served and rejected live, including those from specific groups or with certain legal problems?
- Does the geographic concentration of intakes match that of served people, including those with specific demographics, groups, or legal problems?
- How does the geographic concentration of served people compare to people rejected?
How do we help?
Generally, what are the characteristics of the people who receive limited service and/or extended service, who achieve positive outcomes or not, and/or are served by staff or pro bono volunteers?
- Detailed Sub-Question Examples:
- To how many people does my organization provide limited services versus extended services and what are their demographics?
- How many people from specific groups (e.g., vulnerable populations) or with certain legal problems receive limited services versus extended services
- How many people overall, from specific groups, or with certain legal problems achieve positive outcomes as a result of the assistance my organization provides? What about those who do not achieve positive outcomes?
- How many clients are served by staff versus pro bono volunteers and what are their demographics and legal problems?
- How do the number and demographics of those receiving limited services or extended services compare to the demographics of the eligible population?
- How do the legal problems of those receiving limited services or extended services vary, especially for specific groups?
- How do the number and demographics of those achieving positive outcomes versus those not achieving positive outcomes compare to the demographics of the eligible population?
- How do the legal problems of those achieving positive outcomes versus those not achieving positive outcomes vary, especially for specific groups?
- How do the number, demographics, and legal problems of those served by staff versus those served by pro bono volunteers vary, especially for specific groups?
- How have the number, demographics, and legal problems of those receiving limited services or extended services changed over time?
- How have the number, demographics, and legal problems of those achieving positive outcomes versus those not achieving positive outcomes changed over time?
- How have the number, demographics, and legal problems of those served by staff versus those served by pro bono volunteers changed over time?
- Where do those receiving limited services or extended services live, and how does this vary by specific demographics, groups, or legal problems?
- Where do those achieving positive outcomes versus those not achieving positive outcomes live, and how does this vary by specific demographics, groups, or legal problems?
- Where do those served by staff versus those served by pro bono volunteers live, and how does this vary by specific demographics, groups, or legal problems?
- How does the geographic concentration of those receiving limited services compare to those receiving extended services?
- How does the geographic concentration of those achieving positive outcomes compare to those not achieving positive outcomes?
- How does the geographic concentration of those served by staff compare to those served by pro bono volunteers?
What resources are required?
Generally, how many hours does my organization work on different tasks for different people with different legal needs?
- Detailed Sub-Question Examples:
- How many hours does my organization work on cases and other services?
- How many hours do practice groups or offices work on cases and other services?
- How many case hours are worked by staff versus pro bono volunteers?
- How many hours are spent achieving various outcomes?
- How do hours worked compare by demographics and/or legal problems?
- How have total organizational hours, hours by practice group or office, hours by legal problem, and staff versus pro bono hours changed over time?
- For cases or other services activities in which geographic areas are the most/least hours spent?
- For cases in which geographic areas are the most/least staff and pro bono hours worked?
- Does the geographic concentration of hours worked match the geographic concentration of eligible people, people requesting assistance, and/or people receiving service?
Analysis Types
There are an infinite number of analyses that can be performed to answer data questions. Explore these 5 analysis types and learn more about their definitions, purposes, examples, and key insights.
Snapshot
Definition: Snapshot analysis measures counts or percentages for a specific period, typically the most recently completed year, quarter, or month. It provides a snapshot of the current state of your data.
Purpose: Establishes a baseline or identifies unexpected results requiring further analysis.
Examples:
- Total number of cases handled in the last year.
- Percentage of clients served by demographic category (e.g., age, gender).
Key Insight: If any counts or percentages are unexpected, follow up with comparison, trend, or spatial analyses to explore possible reasons.
Comparison
Definition: Comparison analysis examines relationships between two or more variables to uncover insights about client conditions or data linkages.
Purpose: Highlights disparities, disproportionalities, differences, relationships, or conditions requiring further investigation.
Examples:
- Comparing service rates by gender or ethnicity.
- Analyzing links between poverty levels and case types.
Key Insight: When unexpected differences arise by demographics or legal problem, investigate to understand the data relationships and determine whether advocacy or services targeting multiple conditions are needed.
Trend
Definition: Trend analysis examines changes over time to identify patterns, spikes, or dips in client conditions or service needs.
Purpose: Tracks improving and/or worsening conditions, progress or regress, and emerging issues.
Examples:
- Monitoring increases in housing-related cases over five years.
- Tracking the seasonal variation of client intakes.
Key Insight: Analyze trends over a five-year period (or longer when possible). Unexpected changes, such as spikes or dips, may confirm expectations or raise new questions about whether proactive steps are necessary.
Geographic Concentration
Definition: Geographic concentration analysis compares high or low concentrations of multiple variables to understand how location impacts client conditions. It often uses location quotients (LQs) to quantify concentrations.
Purpose: Highlights areas where services could be ramped up to better meet client need, and pinpoints "hotspots" or regions with specific emerging needs or resources.
Examples:
- Identifying neighborhoods with higher-than-expected concentrations of eviction cases.
- Comparing service levels with poverty concentrations across regions.
Key Insight: Concentration analysis reveals the interplay between variables and locations, helping you understand how geographic factors influence service needs or outcomes.
Geographic Distribution
Definition: Geographic distribution analysis examines how people, problems, or resources are distributed across a service area. Dividing the area into smaller subregions reveals spatial patterns.
Purpose: Identifies spatial dimensions of your organization’s reach and client needs.
Examples:
- Mapping cases by zip code.
- Showing distribution of foreclosure cases across counties.
Key Insight: Spatial patterns provide opportunities to learn about the geographic dimensions of your services and client needs, highlighting where interventions may be needed.