Discussion of journals that are published exclusively in electronic format focuses on the way they affect the communication of scientific information to the research community. Highlights include the impermanence of electronic materials; access; indexing; library holdings; pricing; cataloging; citations; and considerations for further study.…

This study surveyed a random sample of scholars in nine scientific disciplines from private and public colleges and universities across the United States and Canada to determine use and non-use of electronic prints (e-prints, or journal article preprints) archives in different disciplines. Discusses reasons for use and non-use, including…

Reviews studies of student usage of the Internet to determine how they use the Web for research. Preliminary data suggest the majority of students begin a research assignment with the Internet, most often with a commercial search engine. Undetermined is whether students have adequate information literacy skills to find authoritative information…

The online searching behavior of 170 nonacademic end users (journalists and politicians) was evaluated and compared to the searching behavior of information professionals. Findings discuss ways in which end user behavior does and does not conform information professionals' preconceptions and how searching behavior is related to levels of…

A two-year qualitative study evaluated use of assistive technology by 13 students. Excerpts from case studies illustrate the perspectives of parents, specialists (physical therapists and speech language pathologists), special and regular education teachers, instructional assistants, student users, and peers. Results demonstrate the complex…

Examines high school students' use of the World Wide Web to complete assignments. Findings showed the students used a good variety of resources, including libraries and the World Wide Web, to find information for assignments. However, students were weak at determining the quality of the information found on web sites. Students did poorly at…

Examines contributing factors for the organizational usability of state digital libraries through evidence from usage statistics of Internet-based database services available through a state digital library, a statewide-administered library survey, and a Web-based survey of users. Presents an organizational usability model for state digital…

Describes an exploratory study of the educational effectiveness of course Web sites among undergraduate accounting students and graduate students in business statistics. Measured Web site visit frequency, usefulness of each site feature, and the impacts of Web sites on perceived learning and course performance. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of the influence of library catalog use studies on cataloging codes and practices focuses on a study of reference staff members at three Association of Research Libraries academic libraries that was conducted to determine their use of bibliographic record elements. Records in online catalogs and bibliographic utilities are examined, and…

Describes study of elementary school students that investigated the use of computer-based pointing devices. The time required to move to a target and the type of input device are examined, the applicability of Fitts' law is discussed, and the impact of input devices on processing rate is examined. (27 references) (LRW)

Explored whether racial identity attitudes of 166 Black college students were predictive of their attitudes toward counseling and counseling centers. Found that racial identity attitudes significantly predicted four of five counseling attitudes. Discusses implications of findings suggesting that underutilization of counseling services by Black…

Describes surveys of elementary school teachers and teacher education institutions that were conducted to determine the relationship between the media instruction that is provided to preservice teachers and the use teachers make of media in the classroom. Recommendations for teacher education are given, and further research needs are suggested.…

Examines traditional categories of information/communication system users. Argues that these categories lead to a view of communication systems that make "haves" and "have-nots" inevitable. Describes several alternative communication-based user categories that view users as actors within the information system. (SR)

Describes a survey of Australian primary and secondary schools that examined their use of electronic information systems. Topics discussed include systems and services in use, the extent of system use and acceptance, curriculum applications, perceived problems and benefits, and some of the strategies and administrative procedures connected with…

The second of two articles discusses the use of the media package called "Who Cares?" in the nursing profession. The evaluation of its effectiveness by users is described, and implications of the findings are discussed in relation to audiovisual media in nursing education, and to the development of nursing education in Britain. (32…