The ways in which alumni associations trace missing alumni are described. Methods vary from listing lost names in alumni periodicals to paying credit bureaus to trace alumni by Social Security number. The U.S. Postal Service, which runs National Change of Address, sells access to its database of forwarding addresses. (MLW)

Examines the Child Language Data Exchange System (CHILDES), its organizational form, and its three major tools: (1) the CHILDES database of transcripts, (2) the CHAT system for transcribing and coding data, and (3) the CLAN programs for analyzing CHAT files. (GLR)

Discusses the PsycINFO database as a source for articles on character analysis and psychological or psychoanalytical literary criticism. Serials included in the database that address psychoanalytical literary criticism are listed, and the types of articles and recurring themes found in the database are described. (six references) (CLB)

Approaches to improved productivity in the input cycle of database creation are discussed in three papers. The discussions include problems with and potential impacts of computer support for indexers; conversion from a minicomputer based indexing and abstracting production system to a microcomputer network; and a computerized system for…

Lists frequently used sources of U.S. agency decisions, including loose-leaf services, reporters, and computer assisted legal research systems. Information provided for each agency represented in guide includes a description of agency and its authority; official and commercial sources for agency decisions, their publishers, OCLC numbers, and…

Reviews the area of telecomputing. Discusses system components, reasons to study telecomputing, system use, simulation programs (for teaching telecomputing without a modem), and database access. (CH)

Discusses browsing in the particular context of visual and multimedia (e.g., videodisc) information databases and describes a working prototype system based on a fisheye view of documents in their context. Topics discussed include selecting and presenting information, exploratory access to information, artificial intelligence, user needs, and…

Review of encyclopedias and other databases available on CD-ROM focuses on the International Encyclopedia of Education (IEE). Problems with software and hardware are described, perspectives from the computer industry are presented, the commercial potential of CD-ROMs is discussed, and a list of sources is provided. (six references) (LRW)

Describes a menu-driven software system for searching CD-ROM databases that also unobtrusively gathers data on CD-ROM usage. The discussion covers the steps involved in creating a log file using DOS, tips for capturing user status, strategies for salvaging incomplete data, and types of CD-ROM usage analysis supported by these data. (three…

Presents the results of a detailed study of errors in a musical database. Provides an equation for estimating the effect of an overall error-rate on arbitrary analytic measures derived from the database. Examines four methods of error detection: manual proof-reading, double-entry method, programed syntactic checking, and programed heuristics. (GEA)

This literature review explores needs assessment in 12 disciplines based on a comprehensive search of 12 databases. Topics discussed include how and why needs assessments are conducted; prioritization of needs; use of selected needs assessment variables across disciplines; implications for performance technology; and future challenges. (Contains…

Provides an annotated bibliography of 61 information sources for understanding how scholars in the humanities use electronic texts and computer-based methods of analysis; identifying and locating electronic texts and related resources; and addressing issues involved in the production, distribution, and use of electronic texts. (LRW)

Discussion of retrieval overlap and relevant overlap focuses on an analysis of data from an earlier study on overlap among document representations. This new analysis investigated the odds that an item was judged relevant when it was retrieved by two search fields as opposed to being retrieved by only one field. (Contains 17 references.) (LRW)

Presents the theoretical aspects of a data analysis methodology that can help transform sequential raw data from a database into useful information, using the statistical analysis of patents as an example. Topics discussed include relational analysis and a technology watch approach. (Contains 17 references.) (LRW)

Describes how a specific online program, the Online Writing Laboratory (OWL) of Purdue University, aids the teaching of writing. (SR)