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The Effects of Scale Forms on Perceived Needs: An Example From a Study of Identifying Essential Competencies for Program Evaluators
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| Presenter(s):
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| Yi-Fang Lee, National Chi Nan University, ivanalee@ncnu.edu.tw
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| James Altschuld, The Ohio State University, altschuld.1@osu.edu
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| Abstract:
While traditional needs assessment (NA) is based on the measurement of the discrepancy between desired and current states, using only one scale (desired) is common practice. A literature review indicated that there was little empirical study comparing single and double formats. The intent of this presentation is to explore whether single, double, or triple scaled instruments influence the way in which respondents rate importance or desired states. The surveys were developed for a study of the essential competencies for program evaluators. The sample consisted of 150 evaluators who participated in university evaluation programs organized by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council in Taiwan. The content of the forms was skills noted above in relation to the perceived needs of respondents. Recommendations are drawn from the findings.
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Using Online Surveys to Assess Information Needs of Healthcare Professionals in Low Resource Settings: How is Data Quality Ensured?
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| Presenter(s):
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| Saori Ohkubo, Johns Hopkins University, sohkubo@jhuccp.org
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| Tara Sullivan, Johns Hopkins University, tsulliva@jhuccp.org
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| Abstract:
Conducting online surveys offers many benefits to program evaluators in a wide range of disciplines. However, the method is not widespread or proven to reach highly diverse populations in areas without a reliable Internet connection. K4Health, a global knowledge management project, has overcome these limitations by instituting numerous quality control mechanisms in the design and implementation of online surveys to systematically assess information needs of healthcare professionals working in resource poor settings. K4Health’s global online needs assessment was conducted in three languages (English, French, and Spanish) over a one-month period in spring 2009, and collected 925 responses from various professionals in 110 predominantly low- and medium-income countries. Survey results were triangulated with findings from other components of a broader needs assessment, and effectively informed the design of a global knowledge management project aiming to bring credible, relevant and usable information to key audiences including community health workers in isolated locations.
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