Past studies which have examined need levels have identified individuals as functioning at specific need levels without an adequate assessment of the intensity of each need or a clear comparison with other need levels. To address these issues, a self-report inventory using a modified paired comparison format was developed to assess need potencies within individuals. The inventory, based on Maslow's theory of the hierarchy of needs, permits both multiple comparisons of items from each need level with each other and an assessment of the intensity levels of each item. College students (N=47) and faculty members (N=12) responded in percentages to choices between paired items in the area of physical, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, and self-actualization needs. The reliability of the inventory was evaluated by examining the degree of consistency of items designed to measure the same need. Correlations ranged between .52 and .65. The mean potencies of each need level were determined and an analysis of variance revealed that the differences between need levels were significant. Need level, as measured by the intraclass correlation, were significant and indicated that ideas at each level were measuring the same construct. (NRB)