This document deals with a common problem: the fact that "needs assessment" is often required by law and regulation, but there is little agreement on what the term means or what the process entails. The uses and definitions of the term "needs assessment" are examined and categorized along with the various methodologies which are ascribed to it. These categories include needs assessment: (1) as survey research; (2) as consumer demand analysis; (3) as a process of problems identification and diagnosis; (4) as policy priority setting; and (5) as other types of data or analysis. The bibliography presents abstracts of selected sources which tell the types of document, definition of "need", definition of "needs assessment," methods of collection and analysis, other information, and comments or critiques of the literature. (BN)