The Voice of The People: Qualitative Research and The Needs of Consumers

This article describes the benefits of qualitative research in community needs assessment. The value of “going to the people” in order to understand the reality of consumers' lives is outlined. A recent qualitative study with individuals with chronic mental disabilities is used to illustrate the development of themes and patterns of needs. The themes include people's struggle for identity, need for support, and the dilemmas of hospitalization and lack of employment.