A multimethod approach for needs assessment

Abstract

Needs assessment is a type of applied social evaluative research, focused on the identification and prioritization of problems in a specific context, as a base for intervention planning oriented to solve the main identified needs. In spite of the huge availability of research methods for the development of this kind of studies, needs assessment practice
is too often charaterized by certain methodological poverty, with a clear dominance of the survey as the main or only research method. In the present paper, after a brief revision of the methodological approaches that may be adopted in the general field of social research and programme evaluation, a multimethod needs assessment model is proposed, suggesting the combined use of both qualitative and quantitative research techniques.