There are numerous factors related to the target population that should be considered when creating the collection strategy for a needs assessment. These include the demographics of the target population, the respondent’s experience with similar data collection efforts in the past, the degree of anonymity required, the geographic dispersion of the target population, the particular sensitivities of the respondents around certain topics, and the logistical or technological realities. This excerpt from the  ASTD Handbook outlines  questions to consider for each factor.