In order for a community to undertake an effective strategy for development, it is important to study its current make-up, conditions, trends and comparisons.
Many techniques are available to gain insight into what is happening in a community.
Key indicators of a number of dimensions provide a reality check of a community's current situation. Often, it's easiest to begin by working with data that already exists, called secondary data. When numbers and specific values of an indicator are involved, it is tempting to consider that as an absolute answer. However, a single indicator or a single number is rarely helpful by itself. It must be looked at in relationship to other indicators.