Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment

Process for identifying the knowledge and skills necessary for achieving organizational goals

Tool for identifying the problem and selecting an appropriate intervention

Purpose of Needs Assessment

Identify root cause of the problemDetermine whether the problem is

instructional, organizational, administrative, motivational or attitudinal

Focus time and effort on the right solution

Bring practice close to educational goals

Kern, 1998

What are some needs assessment models?

Problem-solving modelAccommodation modelGap Analysis model

Problem-solving model

Is there a problem now?Is there likely to be a problem in the near

future?Does learner performance relate to

identified problem?Do performance deficits cause/affect

problem?

Accommodation Model

What are recent changes in policies or philosophies?

Are there changes mandated by accrediting agencies?

Are there new knowledge, skills, or attitudes to be taught?

Gap Analysis Model

What are learning goals and standards?How well are learners achieving them?What is the gap between “what should be”

and “what is”?Can it be solved by an educational

intervention?

Phases of Needs Assessment

PlanningCollecting dataAnalyzing findingsCompiling a report

Planning

Determine the current environment Identify the needs, problems, or gaps

Where is the problem/gap? When did it start? Who does it involve? What are the issues? What are the priorities? What are the desired outcomes?

Collecting data

Review of available informationAnalysis of existing dataPublished literaturePublic health statisticsReports by government agencies or

professional societiesAudits of current performance

Collecting data

Collection of new information Focus group discussions InterviewsWritten questionnairesKey informantsDirect observationCritical incident reviewsTime-motion studies

Analyzing data

Output of the analysis = prioritized needs

Needs can be prioritized on the basis of: Impact Economic value Timeliness Frequency of identification

Compiling a Report

Summary of purposeSummary of processSynthesis of findings (table and narrative)

Recommendations

Summary

Who needs to be trained?What needs to be taught?When should it be taught?Where should it be taught?How should it be taught?What resources do I need?