Conducting Needs

Assessment Surveys

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

 A Needs Assessment Survey:
• Has a pre-set list of questions to be answered
• Has a pre-determined sample
• Is done by interview, phone, or written response
• Has results that are tabulated, summarized,
distributed, discussed, and used

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

 Why should you do a needs
assessment survey?
• To learn more about your group or community needs
• To get a more honest and objective description
• To become aware of needs you never knew about
• To document your needs
• To make sure your future actions are in line community
needs
• To garner greater support
• To involve more people in the subsequent action

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

 When should you not do a needs
assessment survey?
• When there is 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 the community would see an assessment
as redundant or wasteful

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

 How do you carry out a needs
assessment survey?
1. Identify reasons for choosing to do the survey.
2. Identify survey goals.
3. Decide how much time you have to do the survey.
4. Decide how many people you are going to question.
5. Decide who will be asked.
6. Decide what questions will be asked.
7. Decide who will ask the questions.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

 How do you carry out a needs
assessment survey?
8. Create a draft of the survey.
9. Try out the survey on a test group.
10. Revise the survey.
11. Administer the survey.
12. Tabulate your results.
13. Interpret your results.
14. Plan future actions.
15. Implement your actions.
16. Repeat your assessment.

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas