Information Sheet on Stories of Most Significant Change

The ‘Most Significant Change’ method involves collecting “stories” about change at regular intervals and interpreting / discussing them in a participatory way (through group discussions etc). The use of Stories of Most Significant Change as a tool during the evaluation process will help the direct involvement of children and young people (and adults). It could be used at regular intervals – for example, every 3 months or so – to help those involved in the process to search for significant program results. It will also help thinking about the value of these results – are they good, bad, what should be done about then etc? In this way children and young people will be able to express, document and make use of their views about the benefits and/or disadvantages of programs to “change” or improve them. This will contribute to a process of research through informed discussion or formative dialogue research.