Needs Assessment

• Another evaluation approach

• What is a “need”
• Approaches to assessing needs
• Examples
 “I need a thneed”, the Lorax

• Like/Dislike, Preference
• Need
• Want
• Demand
• Willingness to Pay
"need" is a value judgement that some
group has a problem that can (should)
be addressed.
 Whose value judgement?
• normative need - an experts opinion,
• felt need - client self-assessment,
• expressed need -(behavior)- use or non-use
of services/facilities),
• comparative need -relative to a reference or
peer group.
 Kinds of Needs
• Outcomes not = expectations (standards)
• At risk : groups whose conditions put them
at greater risk of problems
• Maintenance needs, e.g alcohol, drug rehab
 Three Models
• Discrepancy (gap) = desired - existing
– Goal setting - what we want
– Performance measurement - what is
– Discrepancy identification
• Marketing - determine needs and wants of target
markets and assess ways (4P's) of meeting them
– Select target markets
– Choose competitive position
– Develop effective marketing mix
• Decision-making models- MAUT/I-P
Need = difference between what
someone wants and what exists

Applied mostly to public programs

Often in context of resource allocations
across target populations or regions
Relative needs - indices, priorities
 Ex1: SCORP Approach
• Measure supply of facilities in region
• Measure “Demand” or desired use
• Difference = Need
• Forecast Future Supply or Demand to assess
future need
 Ex 2: NRPA Open Space
Standards for Communities

• 10 acres of parkland per 1000 population

• 10% of land area in parks
• $8 operating expense per capita
 Problems with Standards
• Minimums, Maximums or Ideal?
• Must be revised to fit local situation
• Origin usually dubious
• Tend to become performance measures
rather than guidelines
• Often misused
 Ex 3. Community Needs Survey or
Market Survey

• Qualitative or Quantitative
• Attitudes or Behavior
• Objective or subjective measures
• Direct or Indirect Approaches
 Central Cities 10/acres/1000
Port Arthur, TX 70.1
Phoenix, AZ 45.6
Columbus, OH 17.9
Lansing, MI 15.2
San Diego, CA 13.3
Minneapolis, MN 11.8
Cincinatti, OH 10.7
 Central Cities 10% of Land
Wheeling, WV 23.6
Phoenix, AZ 19.9
Columbus, OH 17.0
Lansing, MI 14.5
San Diego, CA 13.3
Minneapolis, MN 15.2
Cincinatti, OH 10.8
 Central Cities $8 Operating per
capita
Wheeling, WV 37.36
Santa Barbara, CA 15.43
Columbus, OH 12.59
Lansing, MI 9.82
Atlanta, GA 10.12
Los Angeles, CA 9.50
Minneapolis, MN 8.09
 Meeting all 3
City Acres/1000 % Land Operating
Wheeling, WV 32.6 23.6 37.36
Portland, OR 19.5 17.3 10.40
Columbus, OH 17.9 17.0 12.59
Lansing, MI 15.2 14.5 9.82
Indianapolis, IN 13.7 16.0 13.78
Minneapolis, MN 11.8 15.2 8.09
 Mich SCORP 1985
User-Oriented Facilities
Opportunity NRPA State Plan Std.
Standard Avg.
Local park acres 10/1,000 6.25 10
Outdoor pools 1/40,000 .47 1
Golf courses .5/25,000 1.26 1
Outdoor BB cts 1/5,000 1.05 1
 MI Local Park Acres- 85
County Acres Per Std Needs
Alcona 316 3.24 0
Allegan 277 .340 539
Ingham 3,183 1.15 0
Van Buren 91 .136 577
Wayne 11,299 .483 12,080
State 57,877 .625
 Hit a Homer
• Number 60
 Steps in Needs Study
• Identify users and uses of the study
• Describe target population and service environment
• Identify Needs (propose alternatives)
– Problems
– Solutions
• Assess importance of each need/alternative
(evaluation of alternatives)
• Communicate results/Implement