Using Quadrant Analysis to Determine Needs Assessment Priorities for a Multistate Sustainable Ag Systems Program on Controlled Environment in Agriculture

Abstract Information: Determining needs of target audience is an integral part of the program development process. A needs assessment is "a systematic set of procedures undertaken for the purpose of setting priorities and making decisions about program or organizational improvement and allocation of resources" (Witkin & Altschuld, 1995, p. 4). Needs assessment is vital in today's world of unlimited wants, complex problems and limited resources (Donaldson & Franck, (2016). To plan and prioritize successful programs, it is crucial to determine the importance of certain issues to the target audience. However, the potential issues and concerns with needs assessment include: novice researchers' lack of expertise in performing needs assessments and prioritizing them for program design and implementation (Benge et al., 2019). In this study, we integrated the concepts of quadrant analysis-based needs assessment and educational programming model created by Franz & Townson (2008) for effectively planning and evaluating extension programs. Quadrant analysis is a visual representation of needs based on their level of importance and needs of target audience being served. The tool has 4 quadrants: Low need-low importance (LNLI), High need-low importance (HNLI), Low need-high importance (LNHI), and High need-high importance (HNHI). Based on the quadrant to which the needs align, we can decide on the program design and delivery aspects of programs. Preliminary results suggested that the Quadrant analysis is of value to extension and educational programmers in designing and delivering the programs related to Controlled Environment in Agriculture (CEA). What we found in the analysis of each quadrant is the amount of time and effort needed to create awareness about the concepts of CEA. We also found that the extent of time and effort needed to process and deliver content in extension programs' activities varies. For example, the lower left quadrant (LNLI), the role of extension programmer is more about creating awareness as opposed to real extension programming. Therefore, a good awareness strategy is critical in this quadrant. Regarding the upper right quadrant (HNHI), the role of programmer is of paramount importance in design, delivery and evaluation of programs related to CEA. As this quadrant is both high in importance and in need, it requires higher level of content as well as process delivery and extensive efforts in program development and evaluation. A thorough understanding of each quadrant will help in planning program activities and designing measures to document outcomes. We also discuss how and when programmers should use the needs assessment quadrants in developing, implementing and evaluating extension programs. Thus, this integrated approach would aid in the process of developing and assessing programs. The approach we employed will improve the effectiveness of recognizing stakeholder needs, which will help us build programs, tools, and services to address them. This approach enables in formulation of long-term priorities for extension programs. Additionally, this method aids in addressing the challenges faced by novice researchers while conducting needs assessments and designing extension programs.