what is a needs assessment in research
Needs assessments may. be conducted on behalf of individual organizations or, as in this case, be designed to. recommend courses of action for addressing the identified needs of both individual. projects and the research program as a whole (i.e., the IERI project portfolio). Needs assessment is frequently referred to as âgap analysisâ rather than âgap. identificationâ because its aim is to learn more about particular needs (notably, the. reasons they exist) with a view to closing the gaps.