At this point, you have a goal and you have selected a test of change (one solution to your identified problem that you want to use in a PDSA cycle). You have begun to fill out the PDSA form. Now your team should move to answering the third question for applying the PDSA model (bolded below). The answer to this question will be entered into the ‘Plan Step 2’ box on the PDSA Form.
1. What is our goal (i.e. what are we trying to accomplish)?
2. What change can we make that will result in improvement?
3. How will we know the change is an improvement?
The following sections on “Selecting and Developing Measures” and “Surveys” provide resources to assist your team in determining if the change you implemented is an improvement.
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Selecting and Developing Measures
In child welfare, we want to engage in evidence-based practice. Measurement is the cornerstone of evidence-based practice. Child welfare practitioners want to deliver high-quality, effective service to clients. Child welfare supervisors and managers may need to use data to report on child welfare practice outcomes to their management, county boards, grantee agencies, and governmental agencies. Built into the PDSA model is a plan to measure change. Through repeated practice using the PDSA model, you build a learning culture where asking questions and answering them using data becomes standard practice.
The guide below contains information on different methods for measuring change and guidance on choosing measures. In consultation with your team, decide what measures will be tracked and enter them into ‘Plan Step 2’ on your PDSA Form.
Surveys
A common method for gathering information about child welfare practice is to survey clients, staff, and/or other stakeholders. The first guide below provides an overview of factors to consider when designing a survey. The second guide offers tips for writing survey questions and examples of many different survey question types.
The PDSA Toolkit is brought to you through partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System
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