Daniel G. Dorner & Philip J. Calvert 
Information Needs Analysis [PDF ebook] 
Principles and practice in information organizations

1. Background to needs analysis for information managers

• Introduction


• Information needs analysis rather than information needs assessment


• Understanding the concept of need


• Defining ‘needs’ in relation to ‘wants’ and ‘demands’


• Defining information needs analysis


• Types of information needs


• Reasons for conducting an information needs analysis


• Review of Chapter 1


• Further reading


• References

2. The importance of context in information needs analysis

• Introduction


• The cultural context


• Information needs awareness in context


• Purpose and perceived importance


• Determining the communities


• Making use of existing data


• Review of Chapter 2


• Further reading


• References

3. Models and types of information needs analysis

• Introduction


• The literature


• The system approach


• The target group approach


• The contexts of needs assessments


• Comparing the perspectives


• Information needs analyses in information management contexts


• Review of Chapter 3


• Further reading


• References

4. The stages of information needs analysis

• Introduction


• Four stages of needs analysis


• The recursive nature of INA research


• Qualitative and quantitative frameworks for data analysis


• The stages of ex post intervention


• Review of Chapter 4


• Further reading


• References


• Appendix 4.1: Gantt chart

5. Gathering data for information needs analyses

• Introduction


• How we have reached this juncture


• The primary research question


• The research population


• The data-gathering method


• Data analysis


• Validity and reliability


• Ethical considerations


• Practical issues to consider when choosing a method


• The main data-gathering methods


• Examples of data-gathering methods selected in INAs


• Review of Chapter 5


• Further reading


• References

6. Gathering data from existing sources

• Introduction


• The data


• External data


• Internally created data


• The methods


• Conclusion


• Review of Chapter 6


• Further reading


• References

7. Gathering data through surveys

• Introduction


• What is a survey?


• Planning for a survey


• Conducting a survey


• Preparing for data analysis


• Review of Chapter 7


• Further reading


• References

8. Gathering data through interviews

• Introduction


• Thoughts on managing qualitative data collection


• Interviews


• Focus groups


• Observation


• Other qualitative methods


• Review of Chapter 8


• Further reading


• References

9. Analysing and integrating information needs analysis data

• Introduction


• Analysing and integrating information


• The information analysis stage in the INA process


• Qualitative data


• Quantitative data


• Descriptive statistics


• Inferential statistics


• Review of Chapter 9


• Further reading


• References

10. Reporting on an information needs analysis

• Introduction


• The audience and its impact on the final report


• Validity and reliability


• The writing process


• The structure of an INA report


• The use of graphics


• Other means of communicating the results


• Review of Chapter 10


• Further reading


• References

Dr G. E.Gorman BA MDiv STB Grad Dip Lib MA Th D FCLIP FRSA is Professor of Library and Information Management at the School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.