The National Assessment of Educational Progress Information Retrieval System is a single purpose database program. It is well constructed, runs without problems, and serves as a model for dissemination of research and evaluation study results. The program seems more useful as an index to documents than as an independent database. (Author/DWH)

Policy Goal Percentaging Analysis is a microcomputer program which can perform a variety of useful decision-making analyses. The components of the program, its applications, and limitations are examined. The program is related to the field of multicriteria decision-making and is most useful to program evaluators. (DWH)

Discusses issues relating to microcomputer software user interfaces: (1) accessibility; (2) ease of learning versus speed and flexibility; (3) arrogant versus accommodating software; (4) file management capabilities; and (5) widespread software inconveniences including copy protection, poor use of subdirectories, and bad text. (MES)

Discusses the design principles behind the Unicorn Collection Management System, an integrated library system which includes modules for bibliographic and inventory control, circulation, academic reserves, serials control, authority control, acquisition, electronic mail, bulletin board, and enhanced public access. The flexibility of the system is…

Reviews the main points of computer teleconferencing for both public and private conferences. A directory of teleconferencing resources for mainframe computers and microcomputers is included. (MES)

Provides criteria for selection of microcomputer communications software for asynchronous (serial) communication and for communication with host computers. The following features are discussed: (1) communication options; (2) transmitting data; (3) receiving data; (4) filtering; (5) translating; (6) special features; and (7) general features such…

Offers a selective bibliography, covering the last 25 years, of articles on how to write instructions for using computers. Contains sections on planning computer documentation, computer manuals, and online documentation. (JAD)

A BASIC computer program is described which computes the Stuart-Maxwell test with its chi-square value and associate probability level. Following a significant chi-square test, the user has the option of performing multiple comparisons using McNemar's test for the significance of change. (Author)

This paper describes a set of four BASIC computer programs for computing the Rand index of cluster similarity. The routines calculate the unadjusted Rand Index; the separate routines are designed to handle problems of different sizes and alternate methods of data storage. (Author)

"Family Computing" magazine's Critics Choice Awards for Educational Software Excellence are presented annually. The 35 software programs selected in June of 1986 are listed. (MT)

The author reviews the use of the Apple IIc computer in classrooms, presenting results of trying out 46 program disks. A list of programs that would and would not run on the Apple IIc following dealer instructions is provided. A recommendation for the model is combined with cautions regarding software. (CL)

This is the first of a two-part state-of-the-art review concerning current trends in mental health computing. It deals principally with general mental health information systems, the emerging role of microcomputers and general applications software, computerizing medical records, and computer support for quality assurance programs. (Author)

The utility of educational software is associated with three components: (1) type of learning (cognitive development, individually facilitated acquisition of knowledge, teacher-facilitated acquisition of knowledge, memorization); (2) type of experience (self-directed or purposive environmental experience); and (3) user perception of software…

A nonasymptotic Chi-Square analysis algorithm is presented to investigate r by c contingency tables where small expected cell frequencies render the usual asymptotic analysis inappropriate. A FORTRAN subroutine is provided for analyzing the tables having highly disproportionate or small marginal totals. (Author/GDC)

Reviews characteristics of three computer graphics programs useful to speakers and teachers of public speaking: Chart-Master, Golden Software--Graphics System, and GrafTalk. (PD)