Needs assessment is the most commonly used procedure for assessing the worth of educational objectives. The authors believe this method is a survey of wants, rather than needs, of various groups. It does not establish that such wants ought to be fulfilled. It lacks a principled basis for carrying out its strategy. Four basic assumptions are made…

It is assumed that the delineation of values is critical to proper needs assessments. "Need" is defined as a requisite or desideratum generated as a discrepancy between a target state (T) and an actual state (A), if and only if the presence of the conditions defined by T can be shown significantly to harm, indispose, or constrain a subject (S).…

Examines the consulting process and explains the roles of the client, the internal training and development consultant, and the external consultant. Topics include identifying the need; contracts; training program design and planning; delivery of the training; and evaluation. (LRW)

Discusses the proliferation of continuing education programs in nursing and describes five local programs. Examines the needs assessment approach and applicability in the five programs and includes an assessment of the evaluation processes used. (JOW)

This discussion of different approaches to clarifying problems in the instructional development process defines what a problem is and the types of problems typically faced by instructional developers; presents a rationale for suggesting the use of evaluation models for finding development problems; and suggests ways in which the use of a…

This article reviews the agricultural research evaluation literature in an effort to assess the extent of coverage in this area. Coverage breakdowns with respect to evaluation approaches, types of research, and products and production processes are presented. Results suggest that there has been limited coverage of research undertaken in…

The purpose of this paper is two-fold: first, it identifies a number of needs assessment issues and, second, it describes the operationalization of a needs assessment project based in one particular college setting. It confronts the realities of practice with the ideals of instructional modeling. (CE)

Discussion of training effectiveness focuses on needs assessment and its link to accurate performance evaluation. The components of needs assessment are described; front end analysis as an outgrowth of needs assessment is discussed; and the relationship between training and performance improvement is examined. (four references) (LRW)

The ERS Standards, together with those of the Joint Committee, symbolize a commitment to the professionalization of evaluation. The two sets of standards differ on five points: (1) perceived linearity of evaluation activities; (2) preferred and permitted approaches; (3) purposes of evaluation; (4) obligations to clients and stakeholders; and (5)…

Scriven advocates a philosophical shift from the pseudoscientific doctrine of the traditional social sciences. He substitutes a key evaluation checklist--encompassing needs assessment, comparative value, and assessment of overall value; and suggests that evaluators use this checklist. Theoretically, the grounding of evaluation in judging and…

This article addresses the unique assessment needs of young blind children and discourages dependence on standardized tests for this population. Principles of one assessment approach (involving observation; clinical examination of mobility, language, play, socioemotional development, and academic skills; and interviews with mother and social…

Adult educators undertaking training assignments with businesses or industrial firms should use the following methods to conduct a complete needs assessment to determine the scope, depth, length, and cost of training required: general questionnaires/surveys; interviews with several prospective trainees and their administrative supervisors;…

This interview with Dr. Hallie Preskill focuses on the organizational change method known as appreciative inquiry (AI), which is described as a process that builds on past successes (and peak experiences) in an effort to design and implement future actions. Preskill takes the philosophy and principles put forth by organizational change AI…

Needs assessment almost always focuses on the assessment of change, change from the real to the ideal, present to future, actual to expected, and so on. As a result, most definitions of need can be represented by a mathematical-style change formula. However, most presentations of the concept of change do not completely represent the complexity of…

A basic consideration in conducting a career education needs assessment is whether to select published tests or to develop new instruments and evaluation techniques. Advantages of published tests are availability and convenience and ease to use. Advantages in using self-developed measures can be seen by examining a needs assessment study in which…