Interventions often require multiple decisions to improve outcomes for every student. Whether the decision to implement a practice, tailor an existing protocol, or change approaches, these decisions should be based on individual variables and outcomes via a sequence of treatment. To develop adaptive interventions that have sufficient evidence to…

Examines Maine elementary schools' efficiency in maximizing student achievement, given certain student and community characteristics. Reports results of a simple educational production analysis focusing on the relationship of school expenditures and student performance. Identifies production inefficiencies. Efforts to identify patterns in…

Examines the use of influence diagrams to help understand political processes within organizations. This technique is illustrated through a case study of a new extended care facility connected to a hospital. (Author/IRT)

Estimates frontier production functions for South Carolina's educational process, using data from 541 classes. Classes taught by teachers who received merit awards show greater mathematics and reading achievement gain scores, as do classes with fewer free-lunch students. There was a positive relationship between achievement and (larger) class…

This report of a project conducted to improve the sharing of library resources in the post-secondary sector in British Columbia focuses on the operations of the Interlibrary Loan Network, which went into operation September 1, 1977. This network was designed to provide access to the library collections at the University of British Columbia, Simon…

Examines the performance of local education authorities in England, using data for a sample of 57 (out of 96) authorities for the period 1980-81 to 1984-85. Uses frontier estimation to estimate a cost frontier, finding efficiency level sensitive to the method used. Calculates costs to be between 4 percent and 16 percent above their frontier level.…

A newly developed input/output method for comparing the efficiency of urban elementary schools is presented. The method results in the identification of efficient and inefficient schools and provides management information relative to input and output measures. (Author/IRT)

This paper begins by providing an overview of three types of textbook research methods: asking teachers, parents, or students about the different aspects of textbook quality; textbook analysis, i.e. counting some characteristics of a textbook using strictly fixed rules; and the experimental evaluation of textbooks, usually carried out in schools.…

Student promotion, repetition, and dropout rates constitute the basic data needed to forecast future enrollment and new resources. Information on student flow is significantly related to policy formulation aimed at improving internal efficiency, because dropping out and grade repetition increase per pupil cost, block access to eligible school-age…

Described are methods which can be used by developing countries to affordably obtain the energy without ruining the environment. The approaches mix efficient end-use technologies with modest increases in generating capacity. (CW)

The many forms of performance appraisal for faculty in Great Britain are examined. Advice and suggestions about appropriate training are offered, and conclusions are drawn about the kind of system that is most beneficial to the education service and to people employed in higher and further education institutions. Five chapters focus on:…

Discussed are advanced technologies which may offer an opportunity to meet the world's future energy needs while minimizing the environmental impact. Savings to both suppliers and consumers are described. International electricity usage is compared. Government standards for the manufacture of electrical products in the United States are…

Described are new technologies such as superwindows, compact fluorescent lights, and automated control systems which, when combined with other strategies such as shade trees and light-colored buildings, could reduce building energy expenditures. (CW)

To establish evaluation criteria for home multimedia products, this study examined 13 case studies of experienced users of CD-ROM encyclopedias aimed at the home consumer. Findings ranked seven features from most to least important: searching; textual content; browsing; multimedia; aesthetics; interactivity; and system performance. Results suggest…

The purpose of the Public Library Effectiveness Study was to define effectiveness for the public library institution. The research was designed not to measure effectiveness or evaluate particular libraries or groups of libraries, but rather to identify the feature or features of a public library that most directly attest to its effectiveness. The…