Welcome
to the American Evaluation Association Topical Interest Group (TIG) in Needs
Assessment
Needs assessment can be described as...
a process for identifying the knowledge
and skills necessary for achieving organizational goals (Brinkerhof & Gill,
1994),
a process for pinpointing reasons for
gaps in performance or a method for identifying new and future performance
needs (Gupta, Sleezer, & Russ-Eft, 2006),
a method of finding out the nature and
extent of performance problems and how they can be solved (Molenda, Pershing,
& Reigeluth, 1996),
the process for pinpointing reasons for
gaps in performance or a method for identifying new and future performance
needs (Gupta, 1999),
a means for identifying problems,
determining their extent, and accurately defining the target population to be
served and the nature of their service needs (Rossi, Freeman, & Lipsey,
1998), or...
a systematic approach with defined series
of phases that gathers data by means of established procedures and methods for
a specific purpose (Witken & Altschuld, 1995).
The
Needs Assessment TIG is defined around the application and theory of needs
assessment techniques in a variety of evaluation settings. The site is open for
use by AEA members and the evaluation community at large. The TIG
coordinates its efforts through AEA and is particularly active in the annual
conference.
To
become involved, you must first be a member of AEA and may join up to 5 Topical
Interest Groups. If you are interested in the Needs Assessment TIG,
please contact AEA or send an e-mail to the Chair or Co-chair at the links
below.
Chair:
Jeffry L. White, Ph.D.,
Co-chair:
Ann Del Vecchio, Ph.D., Alpha Assessment Associates, (505) 341-2263 delvecchio@comcast.net
Program Chair(s):
Deborah H. Kwon, The Ohio State University, (614) 247-7267 kwon.59@osu.edu
Hsin-Ling
Hung, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati Evaluation Services Center, (513) 556-7004