Needs Assessment
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Another evaluation approach
What is a “need”
Approaches to assessing needs
Examples
“I need a thneed”,
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Like/Dislike, Preference
Need vs Want
Demand
Willingness vs Ability to Pay
the Lorax
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
"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 equal expectations (standards)
• At risk : groups whose conditions put them
at greater risk of problems
• Maintenance needs, e.g alcohol/drug rehab,
fitness, health
Steps in Needs Analysis
• Identify users and uses of the study – why?
• Describe target population (who?) and service
environment
• Identify Needs
– assess relative importance
• Propose alternatives for meeting needs
• Evaluate alternatives
– Feasibility, effectiveness, costs
• Communicate results/Implement
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
• Process/Root Causes vs Symptoms
Ex.1: SCORP Approach – recreation needs
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Measure supply of facilities in a region
Measure “Demand” or desired use
Difference = Need
Forecast Future Supply or Demand to assess
future needs
• Possibly rank needs by priority/importance
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
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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
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Qualitative or Quantitative
Attitudes or Behavior
Objective or subjective measures
Direct or Indirect Approaches
– What are your needs? – perceived needs
– Measure/observe behavior & compare with a
norm
Michigan SCORP 1985
User-Oriented Facilities
Opportunity
Local park acres
Outdoor pools
Golf courses
Outdoor BB cts
NRPA
Standard
10/1,000
1/40,000
.5/25,000
1/5,000
State
Avg.
6.25
.47
1.26
1.05
Plan Std.
10
1
1
1
MI Local Park Acres- 1985
County
Acres
Alcona
316
Allegan
277
81,471
3.40
539
0.34
Ingham
3,183
276,783
11.5
0
1.15
91
66,912
1.36
577
0.14
Van Buren
Popln Acres/ Need
Per 1K (acres)
9,753
32.4
0
Need
Index
3.24
Wayne
11,299 2,339,337
4.83 12,080
0.48
State
57,877 9,260,320
6.25 35,000
0.63
Activities Analyzed at Regional level
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Boat launches
Campgrounds
Trails - XC , hiking, ORV, snowmobile
Fishing access
Nature areas
Beaches
LWCF
• 1958-1962 – ORRRC
• 1964 – LWCF act
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Funding for federal land acquisition
State matching grants
Planning, acquisition & development
SCORP plans
1978- UPARR
Central Cities 10/acres/1000
Port Arthur, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Columbus, OH
Lansing, MI
San Diego, CA
Minneapolis, MN
Cincinatti, OH
70.1
45.6
17.9
15.2
13.3
11.8
10.7
Central Cities 10% of Land
Wheeling, WV
Phoenix, AZ
Columbus, OH
Lansing, MI
San Diego, CA
Minneapolis, MN
Cincinatti, OH
23.6
19.9
17.0
14.5
13.3
15.2
10.8
Central Cities $8 Operating per
capita
Wheeling, WV
Santa Barbara, CA
Columbus, OH
Lansing, MI
Atlanta, GA
Los Angeles, CA
Minneapolis, MN
37.36
15.43
12.59
9.82
10.12
9.50
8.09
Meeting all 3
City
Wheeling, WV
Portland, OR
Columbus, OH
Lansing, MI
Indianapolis, IN
Minneapolis, MN
Acres/1000 % Land
32.6
19.5
17.9
15.2
13.7
11.8
23.6
17.3
17.0
14.5
16.0
15.2
Operating
37.36
10.40
12.59
9.82
13.78
8.09