Evaluation is data gathering, analysis, and interpretation that leads to decisions about practices and goals. Relatively simple analytical techniques can suffice for many evaluation purposes. Evaluation of inservice education may be viewed as an operating system where input is provided, processes are implemented, and products are generated. When…

This evaluative study hypothesizes and addresses three system approaches to a National Periodicals Center (NPC) that could be pursued at this time: (1) System A, a non-intervention approach which assumes events will be allowed to develop without introduction of federal legislation designed to subsidize or create a National Periodicals System (NPS)…

This study examines the conceptual and theoretical issues arising from the planned redesign of ERIC (the Educational Resources Information Center) and its potential new roles in the dissemination system. A three-level definition of the ERIC system is provided; the goal of making ERIC a comprehensive dissemination program is refined to one of…

This report presents an initial approach developed by the General Services Administration for the management of end user computing in federal government agencies. Defined as technology used directly by individuals in need of information products, end user computing represents a new field encompassing such technologies as word processing, personal…

Practices in needs assessment are reviewed since 1981, the year the federal government changed the role it plays in promoting needs assessment in the public sector. The review is based on reports published to 1993 and indicates that needs assessment is flourishing in a variety of settings. (SLD)

Six papers dealing with decision support and knowledge based systems are presented. Five of the papers are concerned in some way with the use of artificial intelligence techniques in individual or group decision support. The sixth paper presents empirical results from the use of a group decision support system. (CLB)