Post-Compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning across the United Kingdom brings together the perspectives of researchers, policy-makers and practitioners from across England, Wales and Scotland to produce a rich, up-to-date and highly textured source of evidence about this under-researched sector. The contributors analyse how each country's…

How should universities manage their research function? Today, research-based knowledge is viewed widely as fundamental to economic advancement. As a result, universities everywhere are facing pressure to rethink their research activities. A general model of the research process is presented here. Linkages are drawn between that process, other…

A change in focus of much of the work of the Society for General Systems Research for greater impact, relevance, and productivity is suggested. Tentative unit concepts for 23 areas of study or disciplines are explored. A unit concept is defined as the central, pivotal concept around which virtually all other basic concepts in a field revolve. The…

This editorial recommends that social science researchers of organizations develop a database from a sample of organizations in the United States. Quality of data has been lacking because of small samples and uncomparable studies. Generalizations about how organizations function can be made if a large database is developed. (CJH)

This paper attempts to articulate some of the basic theoretical assumptions underlying functionalism, by viewing some of the major historical chapters in the development of modern functionalist theory, and by placing the theory in a longer historical perspective. Historical continuities are argued between Durkheim and Parsons, and between Durkheim…

This demonstration of the use of a computer simulation research method based on the System Dynamics modeling technique for studying distance education reviews research methods in distance education, including the broad categories of conceptual and case studies, and presents a rationale for the application of systems research in this area. The…

British Columbia remained committed to its decision to host a world's fair (Expo 86) despite rapidly increasing deficit projections. Expo is examined as a prototypical example of the escalation of commitment. Theory is proposed that integrates determinants of escalation from several levels of analysis over time. (CJH)

A comparative case study analysis of organizational genesis shows three findings: (1) the greater the density of similar organizations, the greater the capacity to generate resources; (2) the greater the density of similar organizations, the greater the legitimacy of resource claims; and (3) the greater the density of similar organizations, the…

Although research studies in education show that use of technology can help student learning, its use is generally affected by certain barriers. In this paper, we first identify the general barriers typically faced by K-12 schools, both in the United States as well as other countries, when integrating technology into the curriculum for…

An index is presented for estimating structural influences of interdependent subgroups, or parties, that accounts for the parties' indirect dependencies and assigns them weight appropriate to their network position. Indices of overall importance and subgroup importance are illustrated by the influence of 24 journals within five areas of…

Describes origin, development, and current state of Research Libraries Information Network's (RLIN) Command Analysis System, which digests large quantities of raw data on RLIN use and performance and produces useful graphs and reports. Recent results of system and pragmatic issues in analysis of online systems are noted. (7 references) (EJS)

In a population of voluntary social service organizations, research findings show that external legitimacy, more than internal coordination processes, underlies the liability of newness--the higher propensity of younger organizations to die. Lack of institutional support experienced by young organizations is an important reason underlying…

To explore communication patterns within organizations, a network analysis was conducted of a large New York financial institution with 98 departments and 66 branches. Functional analysis revealed that departments had more and stronger communication linkages than did branches. Departments were also closer in communication distances than branches.…

The concept of a qualitative model provides a unifying perspective for understanding how expert systems differ from conventional programs. Knowledge bases contain qualitative models of systems in the world, that is, primarily non-numeric descriptions that provide a basis for explaining and predicting behavior and formulating action plans. The…

This report, written for state legislators, law enforcers, and researchers, presents the results and recommendations of a study of youth crime and juvenile justice in California. Part I, The Control of Youth Crime in California Today, discusses juvenile crime rates, the processing of juvenile arrests, and arrest disposition patterns. Part II, The…