A microcomputer spreadsheet software package can be used for a variety of tasks to manage a program or research project and to cut costs in evaluation. LOTUS 1 2 3 is a versatile, commonly available, and well-known electronic spreadsheet package. Spreadsheets were originally designed to emulate financial ledgers and balance sheets. They are useful…

Describes a study conducted to determine the effect of exposure to microcomputers coupled with large video displays on college students' beliefs about computers. Students' attitudes were measured both before and after exposure to microcomputers, and results indicate that students exposed to microcomputers developed more positive attitudes than the…

To determine the number and current use of microcomputers in Alberta's elementary, junior, and senior high schools, a total of 1,509 schools were surveyed. The results, as reported by 1,271 schools (84.2%), showed the total number of microcomputers to be 13,748. To provide more in-depth information, schools were categorized by six instructional…

This paper summarizes and highlights some of the critical developments, issues, and trends which impact the work of survey research. The issue of preventing or minimizing nonresponse bias by successfully obtaining cooperation from people being surveyed continues to be of concern to survey research professionals. The most effective response rate…

Describes a study that used precourse and postcourse questionnaires to identify computer anxiety in a heterogeneous, voluntary population enrolled in a week-long introductory microcomputing course open to all ages as a community program. The relationships between computer anxiety and gender, age, and exposure to computers are discussed. (7…

This is the fifth in a series of annual studies conducted by the Alberta (Canada) Department of Education in order to gather information about the nature and extent of the growth and development of instructional computing in Alberta schools. Areas covered by the survey include: (1) description of the school population; (2) schools that have…

Advocates the collection of data on faculty attitudes toward computers for use in planning for the implementation of microcomputers in a school district, and provides a questionnaire which elicits information on attitudes toward computers, level of computer expertise, and need for computer applications. (JJD)

This paper discusses a method of eliciting parental self-reports about child-rearing behavior. The method, called computer-presented social situations (CPSS), uses vignettes that are presented on computers. Several studies examined: (1) what mothers think about the technique; (2) reliability of data collected by the technique; and (3) validity of…

Designed to examine the application and cost-effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) for secondary education in developing countries, this document is divided into eight chapters. A general introduction defines the research problem, describes the research methodology, and provides definitions of key terms used throughout the paper.…

Describes the design and operation of two macros written in the programming language of Microsoft's EXCEL for educational research applications. The first macro determines the frequency of responses to a Likert-type questionnaire or multiple-choice test; the second performs a one-way analysis of variance test. (Author/LRW)

A survey was conducted to determine the extent to which public libraries have made computer hardware and software available to their patrons. In December 1984, questionnaires were distributed to a stratified national probability sample of 900 public library systems. Results, based on a response rate of 99%, indicate that: (1) 42% of the systems…

Describes the creation of a prototype CD-ROM disc at the Earth Science Information Center (ESIC) that contained information on aerial photographs formerly held on computer output microfiche. Specifications are discussed, fields of information that were indexed are described, search and retrieval display capabilities are explained, and the results…

Describes a study conducted to determine prevalence of educational software field testing by producers, number of teachers and students participating, evaluation criteria used, whether documentation includes field test results, field test value, and other evaluation methods utilized during product development. Textbook versus software evaluation,…

Discusses results of a survey of school counselors that was conducted to determine their use of mainframe computers and microcomputers. The role of the counselor is discussed, the use of computers for clerical and other related functions is analyzed, and computer use in large schools and small schools is examined. (three references) (LRW)

Four articles review the development of the MELVYL system, which began as the online catalog for the University of California campuses. Topics discussed include union catalogs; local library systems versus bibliographic utilities; retrospective conversion; MELVYL as a reference tool; and an online survey of remote use of MELVYL. (LRW)