Question

Identify a research methodology that can be used in a community needs and asset-based assessment (community survey, key informant interview, focus groups, etc.). Discuss strengths and weaknesses. How would this methodology support your community needs project? Describe how community culture would influence your implementation of the needs assessment.

Answer 1

The best way a community need can be assessed is to conduct a primary interview with the community people at random to keep the information as genuine as possible. There are various ways to conduct the research where the proposed way is to ask the people direct qualitative open-ended questions. The random sampling like the sample size of 20 minimum in a society of 2 to 3 thousand would be good for this research.

The research process like this may have its pros and cons which has to be considered to be able to understand the aspects well for the research outcomes. The Strengths of such community need project are:

· The qualitative interviews that would be asked would be open-ended in semi-formal format. So the people can say what they feel without fear or prejudice.

· The interaction with the people also opens up new issues previously unknown to the research can be got. The small sample size to understand the community is a good and cheap way to accomplish research.

The community survey methods have their weaknesses in:

· The people may not say all aspects of the community which may stay unexposed till further known.

· The opportunities consider previous reports are not there which may be of good use.

· The larger audience is not reached or the ability to access everything from a few is not very well suited to understand a community as each individual is different.

· The reach may be limited where not all age groups are attained.

The need assessments would make the community culture have the needed approach which suites its needs. The understanding of the problem can only give a viable solution. Likewise, the need assessments would derive best results if it’s made community specific which is necessary to reach to the needs and its fulfillments.