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Ripple Effects Mapping

Overview

Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) is a versatile participatory evaluation tool. The intent of REM is to collect the untold stories and behind-the-scene activities that can ripple out from a specific program or activity.

  • Designed to work effectively for gathering evaluation data from program participants, community or coalition partners, or other groups.
  • Effectively identifies what has occurred, as well as what is not occurring
  • Provides an opportunity to decide what direction the community, coalition, or group should head next.

Overall, the REM process is an effective way to get information from participants and on to paper in a visual way.


Additional Resources:

A Field Guide to Ripple Effects Mapping

Using graphics, pictures, and real-life examples of how Ripple Effects Mapping has been successfully used in multiple settings, the Field Guide to Ripple Effects Mapping provides a comprehensive overview of REM. Providing an in-depth examination of the origins, elements, and how-to of the REM process, this book is a step-by-step guide to successfully implementing this process with a group, collaboration, or community of choice.

To access the Field Guide, click here (Note: there is a free download pdf or a purchase option).


Using Ripple Effects Mapping to Determine Your Program Outcomes

Two of the original developers of Ripple Effects Mapping conducted a webinar for eXtension. Join Debra Hansen, Professor at Washington State University Extension and Lorie Higgins, Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Idaho, as they demonstrate the Ripple Effects Mapping process. This webinar describes how the mapping process has been used in a number of states and settings. Additionally variations in how it has been implemented is discussed. Finally, instructions are provided for coding to the Community Capitals Framework, as well as digitizing the maps.

To access the webinar, click here.


In-Depth Ripple Effects Mapping: A Participatory Evaluation Tool

During the 2016 National Association of Extension Program and Staff Development Professionals Conference, a workshop was presented focused on the REM process.

During the workshop, participants learned the following:

  • The foundation of Ripple Effects Mapping, including its field development and testing, therefore understanding how and why it is an effective evaluation tool;
  • How to develop useful and relevant Appreciative Inquiry questions and how to conduct Appreciative Inquiry interviews;
  • How to organize and conduct a Ripple Effects Mapping session by actively partaking in a mapping with fellow participants;
  • And what to do with the qualitative data collected during the mapping session, including how to digitize, code, and analyze the information and report the findings.

To review the materials presented, click here.


Published Reference Materials:

Extension Publication: Ripple Effects Mapping: Advanced Facilitator Guide for in-depth rippling


Published Articles from WSU colleagues:

Ripple Effects Mapping: Identifying Expected and Unexpected Outcomes
2018 Newsletter for Western Agricultural Educators

Uncovering Transdisciplinary Team Project Outcomes Through Ripple Effect Mapping

The Role of Extension in a University’s Response to a Natural Disaster