Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment
AN INFORMATIVE PROFILE
Overview
Thank you for taking part in this Needs Assessment
session Please read through the power point slides as well as the notes below. After reading through the presentation visit the Situation page to join in on the needs assessment discussions. Happy Reading
What is a Needs Assessment?

A systematic approach used to define the priorities, decisions and resource allocation based on the needs/gaps of an organization or program (Owen,
2007, p. 171), and sets precedence for future action.
What Does a Needs Assessment Provide?

A properly performed needs assessment will provide the following:
Impact Approaches
Awareness
Outcomes Demand Credibility
When is a Needs Assessment Used?

Intended to lead to action, change, and
improvement.
Identify the need or gap of an organization and/or
program by measuring the current condition and the wanted condition
How is A Needs Assessment Conducted?

Direct vs. Indirect: Formal vs. secondary research
and data
3 Levels of Need 3 Phases: Preassessment, assessment, and
postassessment
Three Levels of Need

Level 1 Students, Clients, Patients, Potential Customers, etc... Service Receivers Level 2 Administrators, Managers, Supervisors, Policymakers, etc.. Service Providers Level 3 Resources or Solutions Buildings, Programs, Class Size Equipment, etc...
Three Phase Model of a Needs Assessment

Phase 1 Preassessment Phase 2 Assessment
Prepare a Management Plan Identify Concerns Determine Measurable Indicators Consider Data Sources Decide Preliminary Priorities
Determine Target Groups Gather Data to Define Needs Prioritize Needs Identify & Analyze Causes Summarize Findings
Phase 3 Post Assessment
Set Priority Needs Identify Possible Solutions Select Solution Strategies Propose Action Plan Prepare Report
Witkin, B.R. (1995)
Ways to Gather Information

Surveys Interviews
Focus Groups
Working Groups
Surveys
Advantages: Cost effective Method to gather answer for a large number of questions Ability to summarize and report data with ease Ability to reach random respondents Allows anonymity Disadvantages: Information gathered in an unstructured manner (open-ended questions) Possible collaboration among respondents Large investment for achieving a high response rate
Interviews
Advantages: Inexpensive Broad perspective from participants Ability to understand and gain rapport with stakeholders Ability to explore ideas through furthering interesting points Clarification Non-verbal cues Disadvantages: Bias Time commitment leads to small amount of interviewees Data analysis issues: Difficulty reporting information
Focus Groups
Advantages: Cost effective Easy to setup Ability to bring personal and beneficiaries together Inspire synergism Flexibility to probe interesting ideas Disadvantages: Easily misused: Cannot be used to resolve conflict Requires special moderator skills Tedious data interpretation Time consuming
Working Groups
Advantages: Cost effective Easy to setup Ability to bring personal and beneficiaries together Inspire synergism Flexibility to probe interesting ideas Disadvantages: Require logical and practical arrangement Can be bias Tedious data interpretation Time consuming
Key Issues
Defining Need
Ends Focused
4 Discrepancies
Shortcomings
Confusing Means with Ends and Needs with
Wishes
Using only one method for gathering information Confusing level of need
Failure to use the data to set future priorities
Conclusion
A needs assessment can be a very useful evaluation
tool when examining the needed solution and focusing on the end result. However, there are specific issues that must be understood in order for the needs assessment to be conducted properly. Please read the short situation under Situation at www.needsassessment.weebly.com and answer the two questions provided. Post your answers in the appropriate folder under session 6.
References
Needs Assessment (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needs_assessment McCawley, P.F. (2009). Methods for Conducting an Educational Needs Assessment: Guidelines for Cooperative Extension System Professionals. University of Idaho Extension. Owen, J.M. (2007). Program evaluation: Forms and approaches. (3rd.). New York: Guilford Press.
Witkin, B.R., & Altschuld, J.W, (1995) Planning and Conducting Needs Assessments: A practical guide. California: Saige Publications

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Needs Assessment

What is a Needs Assessment?

2007, p. 171), and sets precedence for future action.

What Does a Needs Assessment Provide?

When is a Needs Assessment Used?

program by measuring the current condition and the wanted condition

How is A Needs Assessment Conducted?

Three Levels of Need

Three Phase Model of a Needs Assessment

Phase 3 Post Assessment

Witkin, B.R. (1995)

Ways to Gather Information

Failure to use the data to set future priorities

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