Information Needs Analysis

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