Emerging Tensions in Data Work

Staff and Youth Perspectives in Youth-Serving Organizations

Bibliographic Data

ID10535363
AuthorsAlexander Fink (0000-0001-9559-2958, University of Augsburg, corresponding author), Ross VeLure Roholt (University of Minnesota System)
Year2022
Volume96
Issue4
Pages617-654
Publication date2022-10-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Service Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0037-7961 • E-ISSN: 1537-5404
PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1086/722277
OpenAlexW4307643077
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited21

Youth-serving organizations (YSOs) are under increasing pressure to develop performance measurement systems tracking youth participants and program outcomes. Although the challenges of developing performance measurement systems in human service organizations (HSOs) are well documented, scholarly understanding of challenges in the specific case of YSOs is limited. This study uses participant observations in YSOs, interviews with program staff, and focus groups with young people to delineate performance measurement practices. We then employ a framework developed by Carnochan and colleagues to describe performance measurement challenges in HSOs. Findings suggest Carnochan and colleagues’ framework is useful for YSOs. However, because of differences in funding streams, concerns about harm to clients, and strong commitment to client involvement, YSOs face specific tensions in organizational data work not addressed by this framework. Organizations need a rubric focused more on ethical and power conflicts; our article demonstrates the need for further research into data work in YSOs

Harm · Rubric · Tracking (education · Work (physics · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Psychology · Social Psychology

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