In a community health assessment, asking a local teacher and editor about health needs demonstrates which data collection method?

• A. Key informant
• B. Nominal group
• C. Participant observer
• D. Social survey

Answer: (A)

Key informant interviews involve gathering in-depth information from individuals who have specialized knowledge about the community and its health needs. A local teacher and editor fit this role well because they have broad visibility into schools, family concerns, youth health issues, and how information flows through the community. Their perspectives can reveal priorities, barriers to care, cultural or logistical factors, and resources that might not emerge from random surveys alone. This insider viewpoint helps shape a more accurate and nuanced picture of community health needs.

Structured group brainstorming (nominal group) focuses on generating ideas from a group rather than tapping the intimate, contextual knowledge of specific insiders. Participant observer involves the researcher immersing themselves in the setting to observe behaviors and contexts, not simply interviewing key figures. A social survey collects standardized data from a larger population, yielding broad, generalizable results rather than detailed, insider insights.