What is a needs assessment survey?
Very briefly, it’s a way of asking group or community members what they see as the most important needs of that group or community. The results of the survey then guide future action. Generally, the needs that are rated most important are the ones that get addressed. Depending on your resources (time, money, and people) a needs assessment survey may take many different forms. It can be as informal as asking around with people you know in your community: your postal carrier, the people you work with, the woman at the corner gas station. Or, it could take the form of a professionally written survey that is mailed to hundreds of people. In general, however, true needs assessment surveys have some common characteristics? • They have a pre-set list of questions to be answered. • They have a pre-determined sample the number and types of people to answer these questions are chosen in advance. • They are done by personal interview, phone, or by written response (e.g., a mail -in survey). • The
