Designed to help institutional researchers transform data into useful information, this paper discusses principles for presenting research results to administrators in the top levels of management. The first section describes ten fundamental principles of data presentation: knowing what information is needed; knowing when the information is…

This annotated bibliography lists publications of interest to curriculum researchers. It includes publications related to ways of speeding up the data collection and analysis phase of curriculum development as well as some publications relating to quantitative analysis methods. Papers, manuals, guides, workshop materials, learning modules,…

The study described in this paper produced a comprehensive model for the design of micro- or minicomputer systems containing concepts and practices that educational administrators can use for the successful design of school district computer systems. This report focuses on the methodology used to build the model, which included the following…

San Diego City Schools completed a study to determine: (1) the number of school leavers (dropouts) from district schools during 1982-83 for grades 9 through 12; (2) characteristics associated with school leaving; (3) overall rates of attrition; and (4) attrition rates for students with certain characteristics. The study was intended to update and…

The computerized database of Project MERLIN (Migrant Education Resource List Information Network) contains information about people, programs, and written materials, and a survey was designed to determine whether MERLIN's listing of scopes and topics was appropriate for classifying the database's content. The survey was distributed to MERLIN's…

This study describes one type of analysis used to gather data on attitudinal climate in elementary schools. The Quality of School Life Scale (QSL) was administered to 142 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students in one southwestern elementary school. Responses to the QSL were analyzed using statistical and nonstatistical techniques. The data results are…

This kit on planning systems updates a 1974 Management Studies Office Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit in which developments in planning activities among Association of Research Libraries (ARL) were reviewed. At the time of the original study, in 1972, planning techniques and systems were a subject of much interest because rising…

Q methodology, a theory-based research technique begun by William Stephenson, permits a scientific approach to the study of subjective ideas, and proves useful in studying intrapersonal communication processes in a variety of contexts. The Q-sort, which incorporates Q methodology into a measure, allows respondents to sort statements (pictures or…

A practical guide for designing and carrying out qualitative case study in education is provided. How-to advice for managing all phases of case study research is included. The focus is on case studies that draw from what is commonly known as the qualitative research paradigm rather than a quantitative, positivistic, experimental orientation. Three…

This study conceptualized school-based computer coordinators as change agents and analyzed their strategies, skills, and outcomes. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data from three computer coordinators, their supervisors, teachers, and parents. Data were analyzed case by case and then across cases, using the framework and method…

The linking of research and action, basic methods of social research, and the uses of research in distance teaching are examined, with examples drawn from the Lesotho Distance Teaching Centre and other distance teaching programs. Ways in which research can be useful and early stages of research design and planning are discussed. An explanation of…

The study of teachers as decision-makers is a recent paradigm in educational research. This decision-making approach considers the teacher as an active professional engaged in various decision-making activities prior to and during instruction. This paper describes a naturalistic research design employed in a recent dissertation that investigated…

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) conducts three surveys to contribute to more informed and better decision-making. The Questions for Teachers and Questions for Administrators surveys are both sent out annually to determine the attitudes of District staff on issues of importance districtwide. The…

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the analysis of data collected by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). In simplest terms, the analysis can be characterized as establishing baseline estimates of the percentages of young Americans possessing certain skills, knowledge, understandings, and attitudes and…

In order to ascertain what data elements should commonly be considered in the development of a meaningful procedure for recording and analyzing library reference transaction data for planning purposes, a comparison was made between the development, use, and results of surveys designed and tested at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the…