Describes the evaluation of a new model for software evaluation that emphasizes the collection of student performance data to determine the extent to which students learn the knowledge a software package intends to teach. Discussion covers the results of two studies, evaluation criteria and methods, evaluator subjectivity in decision making,…

Educators involved in strategic planning can use environmental scanning techniques to anticipate social, economic, political, and technological changes that will affect their schools. Compared to more traditional data gathering, environmental scanning is wider in scope and more concerned with anticipating the future and studying the interaction of…

Describes study of distance educators that investigated academic procrastination in telecommunications-based distance education programs in higher education. Perceptions of the causes of academic procrastination are examined, data collection techniques on academic procrastination is discussed, strategies to reduce procrastination are described,…

Examines the creation and operation of the Office of Student Affairs Research, Information, and Systems (SARIS) at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Describes how SARIS came into being, how to identify and prioritize research, how to collect data, how to disseminate findings, and how administrators use the data in making policy…

Observer's paradox, the basic problem facing any analyst interested in understanding how people talk to each other within naturally occurring contexts, is discussed. In observer's paradox, by recording or observing everyday interaction, one is contaminating interaction by process of observation. An extension to sociolinguistic method is suggested…

Discusses strategic planning and describes three levels of strategic planning and thinking that can occur within an organization. Differences between reactive and proactive planning are explained, and a strategic planning model is presented that includes data collecting, planning, and implementation and evaluation. (10 references) (LRW)

A New York State project created a water quality database for private drinking water supplies, using the statewide educational program to collect the data. Another goal was to develop this program so rural residents could increase their knowledge of water supply management. (Author)

Discusses aspects of Native American crime: deficiencies of crime data collection on reservations by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 1985 crime rates for reservations compared to national rates; prevalence of alcohol-related crimes; a survey of Colville reservation (Washington) residents about crime and tribal courts; and mainstream invisibility of…

This study describes how much and in what ways authors of research studies fail to include adequate information about data collection. Results based on analysis of 220 articles from 22 journals show that the quality of measurement reporting continues to be a problem. (SLD)

Describes a program for humane care of the dying in long-term care facilities including the data collection process for clinical practice and learning needs assessment, use of needs assessment in continuing education, and evaluation of the continuing-education program. (SK)

Suggests two complementary frameworks for providing validity evidence for rating data. One conceptualizes raters as data collection instruments that should be subject to traditional procedures for establishing validity evidence; the other evaluates studies using raters from an experimental design perspective allowing the assessment of the study's…

Introduces this special issue on safe schools. Two articles concentrate on educational theory related to safe schools, and two articles discuss the analysis of data about school safety. The final three articles describe the activities of three safe-school programs. (SLD)

Investigates the effectiveness of information design principles and feedback-based usability testing in developing clinical questionnaires. Finds that a form developed using information design principles collected significantly more data than did a control form. (SR)

Reviews the literature and outlines a framework for performance measurement and evaluation within post-secondary continuing education. In the framework, performance measurement serves as ongoing data collection and decision support, placing outputs, outcomes, and ratios as performance indicators in a matrix. (SLD)

Presents an assessment tool for Women's Studies Programs, a survey based on the student-oriented instruments found in "The Courage to Question: Women's Studies and Student Learning" and "Students at the Center: Feminist Assessment," both edited by Caryn Musil. Evaluates the survey as an assessment tool and for gathering student data. (DSK)