Analyzes data from two empirical studies of spelling errors made in online catalog searches. One study used transaction logs to categorize errors, while another gauged student responses to an experimental catalog that detected errors. Recommendations for improving online catalogs to assist users in spelling are discussed. Contains 10 tables and 3…

Surveys conducted in 142 urban public libraries examined customer satisfaction, comparisons with other libraries, and factors affecting satisfaction. Overall, customers were satisfied with their libraries but experienced different levels of satisfaction based on convenience, availability of materials and information, and services facilitating…

This eight chapters of this special issue introduce the use of a template to specify program components as a new tool for program evaluation. The template articulates the components needed for program delivery and provides a systematic method for assessing program implementation. (SLD)

Many participant-satisfaction evaluation forms used in staff development programs are ritualistic contrivances that are poorly designed and administered. This article describes five rules for generating evaluation forms based on clarity, a decision focus, brevity, anonymity, and respondents' opportunity to make additional suggestions. Careful…

Discusses the nature of tasks used to elicit the development of such systems by middle school students. Analyzes mathematical reasoning development of students across tasks and the diversity of thinking patterns identified on problem tasks. Discusses student reasoning about the relationships between and among quantities and their application in…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a weighting procedure for adjusting survey results to correct for nonresponse bias. Using data from a Cooperative Institutional Research Program followup survey, results indicate that the procedure is highly effective in univariate distributions; its effectiveness in adjusting correlation and regression…

In three experiments, readers were presented with garden-path sentences containing reciprocal verbs, and their eye movements were monitored. Results demonstrate that information from the reciprocal verb influenced the earliest stages of syntactic processing. (29 references) (Author/CK)

Focuses on the influence of computers and communications technology on the scholarly process. Discusses examples of this influence on all aspects of scholarship, from formulating ideas and gathering data to collaborating and publishing results. (EV)

This study applied an analytical technique called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to calculate the relative technical efficiency of 95 academic research libraries, all members of the Association of Research Libraries. DEA, with the proper model of library inputs and outputs, can reveal best practices in the peer groups, as well as the technical…

Presents a game of classifying objects according to their attributes using a three-set Venn diagram, then analyzing the classification of the objects to determine their accuracy. Requires students to capture opponents' game pieces (tangrams) by making mathematical arguments that identify misplaced pieces. (YDS)

Provides information about single case experimental research methodologies, and delineates a rationale for their use in certain types of reading research. (MG)

Qualitative research has a limited role in the total research effort in sport pedagogy. This article discusses problems and limitations of qualitative research. Topics include trustworthiness of data, oversimplified comparisons between quantitative and qualitative research, and appropriate contexts for using qualitative research as the method of…

Using portable microcomputers, three applications programs were developed and implemented to collect, store, transmit, and analyze teacher/student observational data. The three applications involved: analyzing teaching behaviors of trainees in field-site placements, using microcomputers to educate mildly handicapped high-school students, and using…

A description is given of the process of developing a casebook prototype that combined vignettes, collected from 22 mentor teachers, by experienced teachers with theoretical knowledge. Use of cases in inservice teacher education and other areas of educator education are discussed. A sample case is included. (IAH)

Describes data analysis activities for grades three through six using unshelled peanuts. Includes two reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)