Introduces three new metrics that measure the range of use of a university Web site by its peers through different heuristics for counting links targeted at its pages. Results from all three range models that were tested on United Kingdom university Web sites correlate significantly with the research productivity of the target institution.…

Econometric analysis uses data from a panel of selected private research universities and liberal-arts colleges that span a 31-year period to provide explanations for differences across institutions in the sources and uses of giving. Finds, for example, that richer institutions devote a larger share of their annual giving to further building their…

Uses factor analysis to compare the surveillance role and communication utility of television and newspapers. Finds much variance explained by these two uses. Finds those who seek hard news on television also seek hard news in newspapers. (RS)

Results of a study of demand equations for 37 outdoor recreational activities using a multicommunity, multisite travel cost model suggest that determinants of the demand for outdoor recreation include population, residence, income, age, price, quality, and recreational opportunity substitutes. (JD)

Interviewed 136 female heads of households in rural Sri Lanka. Found that marital status figured more importantly than age in use of health services. Concludes that, as unmarried heads of households increase in less developed places, their demands for health care at the village level likely will escalate. (Author/NB)

Describes a study that examined the use of a hypertext system by patrons of three museums. The results discussed include user preference for embedded menus over traditional indexes and user criteria for article selection. The discussion also covers appropriate approaches to analyzing usage data. (eight references) (CLB)

Examines the use and experience of music videos, video games, and videocassettes among children and young adolescents. Finds that boys reacted with greater arousal and more positive affective states to new video media as compared to traditional media, while girls reported lower affect and arousal, expecially during video games and music videos.…

This study of the online catalog at a large academic library focuses on the nature of problems for which users seek librarians' assistance. Characteristics of users, types of searches, kinds of problems, the effect of prior experience with the system, and user suggestions for improving the system are examined. (10 references) (Author/MES)

Examines the value of the Public Library Association Planning Process and Output Measures. It is concluded that the planning process is wasteful, in that it ignores existing literature and addresses conditions that libraries cannot change. It is also argued that adoption of the output measures would be dangerous, as it involves serious egalitarian…

Examined degree to which surveyed student needs were indicative of counseling groups and workshops that students used over four-year period. Needs assessment survey was only modestly indicative of group and workshop services student used. Results support contention that multiple sources of information should be used to assess student needs and…

Describes a study that collected data on information needs and uses during Internet training from students in information networking classes at Indiana University. Information needs, events which led to the needs, and the sources used to resolve the needs were identified and categorized, and implications for Internet trainers are discussed.…

Describes an inductive, qualitative study of 30 Syracuse University students that investigated the situated nature of action during interactions with an online public access catalog. Highlights include elements of situatedness, with examples; the mapping of individual searches; and users' goals and stopping behavior. (Author/LRW)

Provides an overview of research on notetaking and two related learning strategies: outlining and concept maps. Examines the potential effectiveness of approaches to aid learning in encoding new information and current uses in interactive multimedia instruction. Offers suggestions for incorporating these strategies into future designs. (Author/AEF)

Discusses user-centered thinking and lessons from reader-centered theory. Reviews findings from studies by literary theorists on user-centered approaches to information and uses these findings to support and offer two analogies: (1) an analogy between reader and library user; and (2) an analogy between information and the library. (Author/JMV)

A random sample of bulletin board users was selected from two online services, and they were interviewed using electronic mail; the bulletin board audience was characterized, focusing on adopters (characteristics that users possess) and social impacts (benefits, usage patterns, and how bulletin board use affects other communications media). (AEF)