1. Community Problem Analysis
CHAPTER 17
Community Problem Analysis

2. THE EMERGENCE OF A COMMUNITY PROBLEM
Understanding the Background of the Problem
Clarifying the Theoretical Perspectives of the Problem
Refining Community Problems Within an Organizational Context
Avoiding Vague and Ambiguous Terms
Identifying Key Factors
Examining Factors
Narrowing the Problem Focus

3. Problem Statements Initial Problem Statements
Revised Problem Statements
Teenage unemployment is high.
Unemployment for those inner city black youth age is 38 percent as compared to 6 percent unemployment for adults.
Sexism in higher education exists.
Women occupy only 10 percent of administrative posts in higher education.

4. Narrowing the Problem Focus

5. Expressing the Consequences of the Problem
Contributing Factors
Problem A
Problem B
Problem C
Specific Consequences X Y Z

6. DETERMINING PROBLEM PRIORITIES
Because an organization involved in social planning has limited time, energy, and money, it must purposefully select which problems and contributing factors it will concentrate on and which ones it will postpone.

7. RATIONAL PROBLEM-SOLVING METHODS
Formal Needs Assessment
Professional studies of problems
Surveys of what people perceive their needs to be
Analysis of unmet needs
Comparing the need for services with their availability
Informal Needs Assessment
Essential Aspects of a Needs Assessment

8. SUMMARY
To undertake an analysis of a community problem requires that a commu­nity consensus be formed. Frequently a small group of people who have an awareness of a problem must convince other community decision makers that the issue is worth the community’s attention and resources. Even after a general issue is identified the organization dealing with the problem must set priorities and determine on which specific aspect of the problem to devote concentrated energies. One of the major tools to help get the attention of a community is a needs assessment.

9. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1) Can you identify a major social problem in your community?
a) How would you define it broadly?
b) How would you define it narrowly?
2) What are some factors contributing to the problem?
3) How does what you consider to be the three most important problems of the community compare with those of your fellow students? Why are there differences (or similarities) in perception? What does this say about value judgments?