Designed For Impact
Designed For Impact
A collaborative scaffolding tool that helps statisticians and domain experts translate evidence into action.
Executive Summary
Designed For Impact: The Statistical Collaborator’s Workflow is my master’s thesis project focused on improving how statisticians and domain experts plan for real-world impact in collaborative projects. The project introduces the Designed for Impact Tool, a fillable framework that helps teams align on goals, define a decision-focused intended impact, connect analysis choices to that impact, and communicate results in ways that support action.
The work is motivated by a shift in the role of statisticians and data scientists. As technical analysis becomes increasingly automated, the value of a statistical collaborator depends not only on modeling and interpretation, but also on asking better questions, guiding stakeholder decisions, and helping teams translate evidence into action.
Project Highlights
- Developed a practical consulting tool that structures early project conversations around vision, partnership, impact, analysis pathway, and narrative.
- Extended existing statistical collaboration frameworks by adding a more explicit structure for planning and assessing impact.
- Coordinated a full research cycle, including framework development, instrument design, research administration, stakeholder-informed iteration, and thesis writing.
Methods & Approach
The Designed for Impact Tool builds on established statistical collaboration frameworks, including QQQ and ASCCR, while addressing a gap in how statistical teams plan for impact. Rather than treating impact as something evaluated after analysis is complete, the tool helps collaborators define intended impact at the start of a project and use that definition to guide methodological and communication decisions.
The project combines framework development, applied research design, and mixed methods validation. I developed the tool through an iterative process by soliciting feedback from students and practitioners in computer-aided personal interviews.
Deliverables
Thesis Website
A public-facing website introducing the Designed for Impact Tool, the motivation behind the project, and the research process supporting the framework.
Poster Presentation
A recorded eCOTS poster presentation summarizing the motivation, framework, and early research direction for the project.