1. Class 4: Capacities & needs Assessment Continued — Sources of Data
UTA SSW, SOCW 6371
Community & Administrative Practice
UTA school of social work
Dr. Dick Schoech
Copyright 2009 (permission required before use)
Suggest printing slides for class using: Print | Handouts | 3 slides per page | grayscale options

2. Summary of Classes Class 2: Key theories, perspectives, values
Class 3: Problem definition, theories of need
4. Capacities and needs assessment
Next week: Evidence based interventions and logic models

3. Learning Objectives of Class
Learn data sources
Learn collection methods
advantages/disadvantages of each
Learn about data analysis in CAP environment
Learn the logic of presenting data
Learn other ways of presenting data §

4. Need Types Normative = compared to standards (poverty rate)
Perceived/Felt = What people say, e.g., expert opinion
Expressed = squeaky wheel, e.g., waiting lists, unemployment rate, public forums, surveys
Relative = compared to similar situations, concern is equity, (infant mortality rate)

5. Sources of Data Primary (you collect for current purpose)
Experts
Key informants
Citizens/consumers
Secondary (others collected for other purposes)
Census bureau
Research studies
Agency reports
United Way assessment reports §

6. Methods of Data Collection
Surveys
Public forums
Interviews
Document analysis
Observation
Group process (focus groups) §

7. Surveys (household, consumer, etc)
advantages
disadvantages
Experience required
Time consuming
Requires a pretest
Return or missing rate
Sample size vs. accuracy §
Targeted
High validity/reliability
Many analysis tools (stats)
Cost effective (sampling)
Online options are possible

8. Public Forums advantages disadvantages Easy to set up
Gives all the opportunity to participate
High validity
CYA (covers your a!!)
Hard to control
Can be dominated by a few
Hard to summarize results
May not be reliable (hard to replicate) §

9. Interviews advantages disadvantages Easy to conduct
Can discover political realities
Delphi technique is useful
Can get ‘off the record’ information
High validity/reliability
Can explore answers
Can get capacities via stories & histories
Hidden agendas
Hard to summarize
Can be biased by who is interviewed §

10. Document Analysis advantages disadvantages
Readily available information
Inexpensive
High reliability
Analysis tools exist
Can get at capacities via histories
Hard to analyze
Hard to summarize
Moderate validity because you can not always find documents on topic §

11. Observation advantages disadvantages Inexpensive Hard to analyze
High validity
Gives information on the context
Hard to analyze
Hard to summarize
May be biased due to values of the designer/ observer
Moderate/low reliable (hard to replicate) §

12. Group Process (Focus Groups)
advantages
disadvantages
Detailed analysis
Quick
Can use techniques as brainstorming & Nominal group
Online techniques are available, e.g., Listservs, chat rooms
Requires experience
Requires planning
Hard to get diversity
Difficult to summarize §

13. Data Analysis/Presentation Principles
Principles when presenting data to the public:
Minimum data collection, maximum analysis
KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)‏
Distinguish between data and interpretation of data
Use simple along with complex stats, e.g., totals and average, percents, etc.
Remember a picture is worth a 1000 words
Assume a 6th grade reading level for public

14. Data Presentation Techniques
Know your audience (researchers vs. program people)‏
Use executive summaries (assume multiple readers)‏
Use indicators, norms, or standards
Use graphics (Excel charting feature is great)‏
Use geographic Information Systems (GIS) help
Use tables and figures
Put data in appendices unless needed to understand text §

15. Politics of Data Collection
Your sanction helps in collecting data
Primary data is a heavy burden on collectors
Use incentives/payoffs for those providing data
Secondary data usually easy to obtain
The Internet is the first place to search
Beware of biases and personal agendas §

16. Conclusion Data is best for identifying need
Stories, histories, etc. best for identifying capacities
People know their needs but cannot help with solutions
Data presentation should be logical & understandable
Minimum data collection, maximum use
Assessment should present a picture/tell a story
Credibility is hard to regain--get 2nd opinion to avoid misinterpretation §