Reference statistics were collected and analyzed for a three-year period from Fall 1975 to Summer 1976 at the Pennsylvania State University Main Undergraduate Library. Reference questions were classified and recorded in three categories: (1) search, (2) ready reference, and (3) directional. Hour of question, interlibrary loan, book, and telephone…

The basic qualities which questionnaires must have in order to serve best the purpose for which they are designed are emphasized. A description of the preliminary planning necessary to questionnaire construction, as well as the construction of the form itself, is provided. Various types of questionaire items and the advantages and disadvantages of…

This study proposed to determine the relative value of two specific techniques of instruction in the social studies, reading and listening, when the factors of varying levels of intelligence and reading ability, and sex were considered. (Author)

The purpose of the exploratory study reported here was to investigate the nature of children's behavior in unstreamed, informal, junior classrooms where the children sit in small groups and the incidence of private teacher talk to small groups and individual children is high. (Author)

Classroom disruptions take a disturbingly large toll on an instructor's teaching time. The kinds and frequency of disruptions, tallied in the following article, may prove surprising to teachers who have learned to take classroom interruptions for granted. (Editor)

The present study was initiated to help college students preparing to teach to obtain information regarding the interests of pre-adolescents and to compare the interests of those pre-adolescents attending schools in varied geographical locations in order to improve learning activities and communications between adults and young people. (Author/RK)

The article describes a planning model developed by the University of Nebraska for specialized distributive education programs at the postsecondary level that collects data from two sources of information--prospective students and potential employers--to determine the need for such programs as floristry, hardware marketing, advertising, and food…

The applicability of conventional measurement techniques in the assessment and evaluation of a middle school educational program has been disputed. The objectives of this program include assisting students in the development of several areas. Among these are independence, healthy self concepts, viable ethical and value systems, socially…

Inferences made in integrative research reviews are as important to the validity of behavioral science knowledge as are those in primary research. The research review is conceptualized as a scientific inquiry involving five stages paralleling those of primary research. Problem formulation is the stage when variables are defined conceptually and…

The National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS) employs a combination of mail, telephone, and personal interview data-gathering techniques. The NLS quality control process begins with editing each returned questionnaire to determine if certain key items are answered and if responses are consistent. If the respondent failed…

The first in a series of papers details the methodology of a study on the environmental setting of the learning disabled (LD) adolescent with attention given to interventions applied on behalf of the LD adolescent, conditions under which he/she operates, and support systems available to the student. Sections address the procedures for selecting…

Emphasis on the systematic evaluation of federally funded programs has steadily increased over the last several years. In response to this increased emphasis, a workshop was held in Eugene, Oregon, on April 12-14, 1977, to familiarize the directors and selected staff members from six Far West Teacher Corps Network projects with the program…

Three issues must be addressed when discussing the standards needed to judge the methodological rigor of naturalistic approaches to administrative research. The first issue involves defining naturalistic inquiry. In contrast to the scientific paradigm, naturalistic inquiry emphasizes, first, the inseparability of variables or events from their…

This handbook provides guidance to district-wide steering committees about how to compile a database. A district database should contain two types of information including general contextual data that are broadly germane and relevant to all programs. The second type of information is about specific programs. The database should begin as a minimal…