TY - JOUR
T1 - What Is and What Should Be Needs Assessment Scales
T2 - Factors Affecting the Trustworthiness of Results
AU - Altschuld, James W.
AU - Hung, Hsin Ling
AU - Lee, Yi Fang
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Surveys are frequently employed in needs assessment to collect information about gaps (the needs) in what is and what should be conditions. Double-scale Likert-type instruments are routinely used for this purpose. Although in accord with the discrepancy definition of need, the quality of such measures is being questioned to the point of suggesting that the results are not to be trusted. Eight factors supporting that proposition are described with explanations of how they operate. Literature-based examples are provided for improving surveys with double scales especially as they relate to attenuating the effects of the factors. Lastly, lessons learned are offered with a call for more research into this issue in assessing needs.
AB - Surveys are frequently employed in needs assessment to collect information about gaps (the needs) in what is and what should be conditions. Double-scale Likert-type instruments are routinely used for this purpose. Although in accord with the discrepancy definition of need, the quality of such measures is being questioned to the point of suggesting that the results are not to be trusted. Eight factors supporting that proposition are described with explanations of how they operate. Literature-based examples are provided for improving surveys with double scales especially as they relate to attenuating the effects of the factors. Lastly, lessons learned are offered with a call for more research into this issue in assessing needs.
KW - double-scaled needs assessments
KW - needs assessment surveys
KW - trustworthiness of results
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140232587&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1177/10982140211017663
DO - 10.1177/10982140211017663
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85140232587
SN - 1098-2140
VL - 43
SP - 607
EP - 619
JO - American Journal of Evaluation
JF - American Journal of Evaluation
IS - 4
ER -