A measurement model was developed and refined in two successive need assessment surveys of samples representative of statewide populations. The first was the Kentucky Elderly Need Assessment (KENA) which was administered to 570 persons, age 60 and older, across Kentucky. The second was the Kentucky Social Services Need Assessment Project (SNAP), which was administered to over 1800 Kentucky adults. Both surveys were administered face-to-face in the respondent's home. The measurement model included: (1) a prioritizing of need by the respondent from a long list of possible needs; (2) a conceptualization of need as being multi faceted and, therefore, use of different types of measures of need (in SNAP: descriptive, evaluative, service difficulties, service barriers, and adequacy of services in the community); (3) measurement of need across a wide variety of topics or areas in which people might have needs (in SNAP: mental health, financial, social activity, employment, physical health, transportation nutrition, and environment); and (4) inclusion of a criterion variable, a measure of Quality of Life which was used to assess the validity of the need measures. (Author/RL)