NCJ Number
54801
Journal
Evaluation and Program Planning Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 239-247
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A PILOT STUDY TESTED THE PRACTICALITY AND UTILITY OF TWO NEEDS ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES: SOCIAL INDICATORS ANALYSIS AND KEY INFORMANTS SURVEY. THE SOCIAL INDICATORS ANALYSIS SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFIED AREAS OF NEED.
Abstract
THE BACKGROUND OF THE TWO TECHNIQUES IS BRIEFLY REVIEWED. SOCIAL INDICATORS ANALYSIS IS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE THE HEALTH AND OTHER HUMAN SERVICE NEEDS OF PERSONS IN A COMMUNITY ON THE BASIS OF GEOGRAPHIC, ECOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA IN WHICH THEY LIVE. SUCH ANALYSES ARE NOW BEING USED BY RESEARCHERS IN MANY FIELDS. THE KEY INFORMANTS SURVEY OBTAINS DATA FROM PERSONS WHOSE PROFESSIONAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL ROLES IMPLY THAT THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A POPULATION BEING STUDIED. THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN A MIDWESTERN COUNTY WHOSE 1975 POPULATION WAS APPROXIMATELY 870,000. A SOCIAL INDICATORS ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED BY SELECTING 52 INDICATORS FROM U.S. CENSUS DATA AND LOCAL PLANNING REPORTS AND PLOTTING THEM ON A MAP OF THE AREA. DETAILS OF THE PROCEDURE ARE DESCRIBED. THE INFORMANTS PORTION OF THE STUDY SENT QUESTIONNAIRES TO 333 PROFESSIONALS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE FIELDS. IN SPITE OF INTENSIVE FOLLOWUP ONLY 37.5 PERCENT RETURNED USEABLE QUESTIONNAIRES. TABLES AND DISCUSSION PRESENT STUDY DATA. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SOCIAL INDICATORS ANALYSIS SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFIED AREAS KNOWN TO BE HIGHLY ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND OTHER HUMAN SERVICES PROBLEMS. THE KEY INFORMANTS, HOWEVER, REPORTED NEEDS IN ALL FIVE CENSUS TRACT AREAS BUT WAS NOT HELPFUL IN PLANNING SERVICE DELIVERY. FURTHER REFINEMENT OF THE KEY INFORMANT PROCEDURE IS URGED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)