Needs assessment

A needs assessment is a systematic process for determining and addressing needs, or "gaps", between current conditions and desired conditions or "wants".

Needs assessment is part of planning. It can be used to clarify problems and identify appropriate solutions. Needs assessments require sufficient data. Needs assessments can help improve policy or program decisions, individuals, education, training, organizations, communities, or products.

There are three types of need in a needs assessment; perceived need, expressed need and relative need.

1. Perceived needs are defined by what people think about their needs, each standard changes with each respondent.
2. Expressed needs are defined by the number of people who have sought help and focuses on circumstances where feelings are translated into action. A major weakness of expressed needs assumes that all people with needs seek help.
3. Relative needs are concerned with equity and must consider differences in population and social pathology.