Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys

Checklist

You know the characteristics of a needs assessment survey:

___They have a pre-set list of questions to be answered.

___They have a pre-determined sample.

___They are done by interview, phone, or written response.

___The results are tabulated, summarized, distributed, discussed, and used.

You understand why to do a needs assessment survey:

___To learn more about what your group or community needs are.

___To get a more honest and objective description of needs than people might tell you publicly.

___To become aware of possible needs you never knew about.

___To document your needs.

___To make sure your future actions are in line with expressed community needs.

___To garner greater support.

___To involve more people in the subsequent action.

You understand when to do a needs assessment survey:

___When your group is just starting out.

___When there is doubt as to what the most important needs are.

___When group members disagree on this point themselves.

___When you need to convince outside funders or supporters that you are addressing the most important community problems.

___When you want to assure community support.

You understand when not to do a needs assessment survey:

___When there is absolutely no doubt as to what needs to be done.

___When it is urgent to act right now.

___When an assessment has been done recently.

___When you feel the community would see an assessment as redundant or wasteful.

You understand how to carry out a needs assessment survey:

___You have identified reasons for choosing to do this survey.

___You have identified goals for the survey.

___You are ready to conduct the survey.

___You have decided how much time you have to do the survey.

___You have decided how many people you are going to question.

___You have decided who will be asked.

___You have decided what questions will be asked.

___You have decided who will ask the questions.

___You have created a draft of the survey.

___You have tried out the survey on a test group.

___You have revised the survey.

___You have administered the survey.

___You have tabulated your results.

___You have interpreted your results.

___You have planned future actions.

___You have implemented your actions.

___You have repeated your assessment.