Sources, Methods and Triangulation in Needs Analysis: a Critical Perspective in a Case Study of Waikiki Hotel Maids

Abstract

Several researchers have pointed out the inadequacy of outsiders intuitions as well as the value of insiders perspectives in needs analysis (NA) research for language teaching. Pressing needs of time, financial resources, and institutional and learner expectations have, for the past decade, placed a great deal of emphasis on NA for occupation-specific VESL and ESP courses, highlighting the importance of reliable methods and sources of information. This study utilizes qualitative techniques in NA for hotel maids. Participant observation, unstructured interviews, and questionnaires were the methods used; sources were hotel maids, supervisors, the executive housekeeper, and a human resources staff member. Methods and sources were then triangulated to determine reliability. The paper concludes with a critique of the unbalanced distribution of power, and with a call for researchers to utilize a more critical perspective in NA, which allows for the inclusion of a wider range of peoples voices.