For a climate assessment to be successful, individual stakeholders need to be mindful of factors that can affect the assessment process, from formulating the research question(s), to identifying measurable indicators and target audience(s), to developing collaborative partnerships, to choosing methods for collecting, analyzing and interpreting the data, and to finally applying the data so the research has not been conducted in vain. Each individual stakeholder will naturally have his/her own priorities about what should be assessed. Part of the role of an Advisory Committee is to come to consensus about how to begin the process, leading directly to the type of research the team wants to conduct. It is critical for each of the stakeholders to keep in mind why the research is being conducted in the first place and to allow for project goals to drive the process as much as possible given available resources. Careful planning at each of the major decision points (how to collect the data, how to analyze the data, how to use the data to enhance programs or services
Though steps in the assessment process have been presented linearly for simplicity, it is important to note that the assessment process should be one that is circular instead of linear. One assessment should lead to another assessment in order to maximize program improvement and the tracking of outcome data. Additionally, the process is circular in that it should reflect and be modified in response to continual feedback from key stakeholders and collaborators as the study progresses from preassessment to assessment to postassessment. This feedback loop includes systematic ongoing reassessment and reframing of originally identified goals as needed.
