Prepared for discussion at an Adult Education Research Conference, this paper offers commentary and summative evaluation of eleven doctoral dissertations on the process of determining educational or training needs of specific adult populations. As context for discussion Joe Ellis' definitions of needs--Felt, Real, and Education--are noted along with Malcolm Knowles' list of four basic references used to determine needs: (1) as perceived by the learner; (2) as prescribed by the employer, licensing board, professional association, or legislation; (3) as conceived by professionals in the field; and (4) as competencies desired by the clientele being served by the learner. For each dissertation, author abstract and instrument(s) are appended. Topics are backgrounds of adult educators in Franklin County, Ohio; continuing medical education needs as perceived by Ohio physicians; police educational needs; Kentucky homemakers preferences for Home and Family Living course content; insurance agents' continuing education needs; needs of personnel administrators in higher education; needs of older adult members of the Brethren Church of Ohio; inservice training needs of Jewish Center workers; needs of personnel serving the elderly; probation officers' needs; and Georgia state Agriculture Department employees' needs. (CP)