Deck 4: Needs Assessment: Approaches to Measurement

Question 1

There are a number of different methodologies that program planners can use when beginning a needs assessment. Which of the following questions would a planner NOT consider when deciding on the method for the needs assessment?

A) What resources are available?
B) How soon does the needs assessment have to be completed?
C) What type of data is currently available?
D) How accurate or precise does it need to be?

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Six methodologies that the planner might choose for a needs assessment would be: 1) extrapolating from existing studies, 2) using resource inventories, 3) using service statistics, 4) conducting a survey, 5) holding a public forum and 6)____________:

A) asking clients and their families what they need.
B) interviewing community leaders and directors of other social service organizations.
C) focus groups.
D) reviewing the literature to get the expert's opinion.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

There are many state and federal agencies that have collections of secondary data that planners might use in place of collecting their own new data. Which of the answers below is NOT one of the agencies that a planner might use?

A) National Center for Health Statistics
B) Bureau of Labor
C) Bureau of the Census
D) Office of Budget and Finance

Answer 3

D

Question 4

State and national data would NOT include which of the following in their secondary data:

A) reasons or causes for the problem.
B) rate/100,000.
C) number of cases.
D) prevalence.

Question 5

Data can be defined many different ways, in different places, by different people/agencies, at different points in history. One of the ways to understand exactly what definition could be used in a needs assessment is to use expert opinion. The strengths of expert judgment include cost, time required to complete the assessment, translation from the database to the local level and which of the following:

A) use in reports as expert opinion.
B) not requiring much work from the social service organization.
C) a clear definition of the terms and how they have been put into operation.
D) prestige for using an expert.

Question 6

Consultants sometimes come in to a project with a personal bias. Consultants should only be consulted after a basic programmatic strategy is outlined by the planning staff. Consultants can then be used for all of the following EXCEPT:

A) offer suggestions based on their expertise.
B) estimating numbers at risk.
C) deciding on a methodology for the assessment.
D) tabulating reasonable target and designing relevant interventions.

Question 7

A resource inventory is a method that collects information so strategies for the total system can be identified. Once information is collected on services, it should be able to be grouped by all but which of the following:

A) function and purpose.
B) eligibility criteria that is standard for all intake.
C) the organization's perception of capacity to meet expanded need.
D) funding source.

Question 8

One of the most important considerations in building a resource inventory is to do all of the following EXCEPT:

A) start with an already completed Resource Inventory and use that information first.
B) be sure terms are defined and standardized.
C) develop a system for data collection that will allow for community-wide planning.
D) identify which organizations in the community offer the defined services.

Question 9

A survey of service providers is important because it provides:

A) statements of client need based on organization's day-to-day practice.
B) direct line service worker's opinion in addition to leadership.
C) data to back up a request for increased resources.
D) an unbiased estimation of capacity for future expansion.

Question 10

Utilization data is collected from service reports and includes categories based on the level of effort of the organization. Which of the categories would NOT be included on a service utilization report?

A) Counseling
B) Legal services
C) Transportation
D) Program outcomes

Question 11

Following the gathering of type of service, a utilization report would also include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) client-to-staff ratio.
B) the number of clients served in an average month.
C) the number of specific service units.
D) the cost per unit of service.

Question 12

The advantages of using service statistics include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) availability and accessibility.
B) allows examination of trends over time.
C) adequate data about prevalence or unmet need
D) does not increase the expectations among recipients or potential recipients.

Question 13

The most powerful method of assessing need is the community survey measuring perceived need. It collects information on all the following EXCEPT:

A) people living in the community.
B) original data specific to the geographic area being studied.
C) attitudes of consumers and potential consumers.
D) agency/organization capacity.

Question 14

The survey process begins with the definition of the problem in conceptual and operational terms. Program planners can do the following EXCEPT:

A) design a data collection instrument.
B) select questions from an existing survey.
C) design a sampling strategy.
D) conduct interviews.

Question 15

Three of the major considerations when deciding to use a survey are listed below, EXCEPT which of the following:

A) finding the expert to write the survey.
B) time, effort and expense.
C) analysis strategy.
D) technical issues.

Question 16

A pretest before the actual survey implementation can provide all of the following EXCEPT whether

A) the questions are understandable.
B) the questions will gather the information wanted.
C) they motivate the respondent to participate.
D) they are included in a list for the respondent to choose from.

Question 17

Sample size is a function of the number of ____ to be used in the analysis.

A) multiple-choice questions
B) possible answers that might be given by the respondents
C) variables
D) points

Question 18

The Office of Economic Opportunity was the first to encourage the use of Public Forums to gather information. Since the mid-1970s which of the following regulations have also required the use of public forums as part of the planning process:

A) Title XX amendments to the Social Security Act.
B) the Fair Labor Standards Act.
C) the EEOC.
D) Medicare.

Question 19

Public Forums allow residents who attend the meetings to do all of the following EXCEPT:

A) articulate their needs.
B) give a perfect chance for program planners to hear the concerns and needs of the public.
C) represent the concerns of neighbors.
D) speak for organized special interest groups.

Question 20

Focus groups can serve varying functions. Which of the following identifies the two different kinds of focus groups?

A) By gender or sex
B) A diverse group or homogeneous group
C) By age or age group
D) By race or ethnicity

Question 21

In program planning, specificity is the same as accuracy.

Question 22

There is no impact of actual service provision on waiting lists.

Question 23

When you have collected data from a survey, the next step is to analyze the data.

Question 24

A survey can produce such valuable information, it should be the first choice for the planner when gathering information.

Question 25

Before rates from different places can be compared, population characteristics must be weighted.

Question 26

Functional status and ability are highly correlated with age.

Question 27

The planner can use prevalence rates for comparison because the definition of terms is standardized.

Question 28

The need for communities to create taxonomy of terms was partly because of fee-for-service contract requirements.

Question 29

Utilization data are a true measure of need.

Question 30

The social survey has two foci: 1) the identification of the respondent's perception of need and 2) determination of knowledge about existing services.

Question 31

A ___________is basically a mapping strategy because it brings together information on the total system of need and its boundaries.

Question 32

Our knowledge about need and demand is time specific, that is, _____________________

Question 33

Our knowledge about need and demand is time specific, that is, _____________________

Question 34

Service providers' recommendations based on their knowledge of consumers and not necessarily on the nonuser population emphasizes demand and not __________

Question 35

Asking service providers to identify the problem or needs of at-risk groups is quite different than asking __________________ and analyzing utilization data.

Question 36

Six methodologies for measuring need are explored in this chapter of the text. List and define the methodologies and discuss their strengths and limitations.

Question 37

Explain why data from providers and clients must include the nonuser population.

Question 38

There are five approaches are useful for locating concentrations of high-risk groups. List the five approaches and how they are useful in program planning.