Chapter Three

Strategies for Collecting and Analyzing Data

PURPOSE

This chapter will enable you to do the following:

  • Prepare for and conduct individual interviews.
  • Conduct focus groups.
  • Make observations.
  • Develop and use surveys.
  • Gather data from documents and artifacts.
  • Collect data from photos and videos.
  • Identify strategies for analyzing data.
  • Review options for organizing data for decision making.

OVERVIEW

The results of a needs assessment reflect the methods that were used to collect the data and also the methods that were used to analyze those data. Thus, data collection and analysis are cornerstone skills for any needs assessment project. Separating fact from fiction in today’s information-rich and complex environment requires analysts ...

Get A Practical Guide to Needs Assessment, 3rd Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.