An examination of methodological referencing patterns for actual physics, engineering, and sociology literature for the year 1983, using a Dunn planned comparison approach, indicates that physics differs from both engineering and sociology, while no difference was found between engineering and sociology. References are given in each sample…

Discusses issues relating to the reliability, validity, utility, and information value of unobtrusive testing of library reference services; provides suggestions for practical applications of these criteria; applies study findings to library decision making and planning; and identifies topics for further methodological refinement. (Author/CLB)

This study describes the research articles published during 1980 in 41 core library journals and reports data for each source article: journal, research methodology, subject, total number of references, and number of references to journal articles. List of journals included in study and 12 tables are appended. (9 references) (EJS)

Measures change in social and private net present value of expected lifetime earnings attributable to M.L.S. degree under current market conditions and calculates effect of changes in placement rates and of two-year MLS degrees. Implications for profession's ability to attract capable individuals and for its sex composition are discussed. (33…

Examines library availability studies for the past 50 years as a measure of library effectiveness and looks at their differing sources of study samples, methods for gathering data, categories of nonavailability, and data analysis. The Kantor branching technique developed in 1976 is described as the standard analysis method. (Author/EM)

A survey at the University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria) examined faculty attitudes toward returning overdue library books. Results were analyzed using the cluster method of factor analysis, and forgetfulness of library obligation and personalization of resources were identified as the primary factors influencing faculty to retain books. The…

This paper presents an evaluation of the impact of the Career Development and Assessment Center for Librarians on the professional position of program participants (assessees) and on the managerial level librarians serving as assessors for the program. Changes over time in nonparticipant applicants (control group) and assessee groups are compared.…

This investigation of the effects of age, gender, college status, and computer experience on students' attitudes toward an online catalog measured student attitudes on three subscales--computer anxiety, computer confidence, and computer liking. Results of analysis of variance showed that computer experience was significantly related to computer…

Requests for published materials made over a two-year period by 79 research fellows in the humanities are analyzed by format, date of publication, subject, and language. The results of this study are compared with results of citation and library use studies, and discrepancies are noted. (Author/CLB)

Construct validity and reliability estimates indicate that study designed to measure utilization of automation in public and academic libraries was successful in tentatively identifying and measuring three subdimensions of level of automation: quality of hardware, method of software development, and number of automation specialists. Questionnaire…

Discusses data gathered from study assessing library users' behavior and perceptions of reference transaction. Characteristics of reference clientele (address, age, education), questions asked, answers given (type, source, length of time spent), relationships between variables, and cost of reference service are highlighted. Instructions and forms…

Discusses hypotheses which examine, for a nonprogramed decision, variables of (1) individual decision makers, (2) information upon which choices are based, and (3) structural features within which decision is made. Circumstances under which decision-making group (Ohio's librarians) selected an innovative alternative (incorporation of OCLC) are…

Describes an investigation of the differences between the levels of the independent variables of gender, college level, previous computer experience, and familiarity with computer keyboarding on college students' attitudes toward the usefulness of a library computer system. Based on the results, some recommendations are made for practice and…

Circulation time-series data from 50 midwest academic libraries were used to test 110 variants of 8 smoothing forecasting methods. Data and methodologies and illustrations of two recommended methods--the single exponential smoothing method and Brown's one-parameter linear exponential smoothing method--are given. Eight references are cited. (EJS)

Comparison of return rates of materials from Ohio State University Libraries to other home loan studies for academic staff and students indicates that due date may be less important than previously thought, and publicity should be tested as means to encourage students to return materials at earlier date. (12 references) (EJS)