Characteristics of a decision support system (DSS) and factors that influence system design are described, along with a decision support database at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Reasons that the institutional research office is in a unique position to support decision-making are identified. A review of the literature of DSS briefly covers…

This paper introduces the essential concepts underlying management information systems (MIS) from the managerial perspective, then outlines a form of MIS design and implementation that may be attainable in a Caribbean educational setting. The growing importance of information and the increasing need to amass thorough information for decision…

Since electronic networking via microcomputers is fast becoming one of the most popular communications mediums of this decade, this manual is designed to help educators use personal computers as communication devices. The purpose of the document is to acquaint the reader with: (1) the many available communications options on electronic networks;…

This research project was motivated by results of earlier work (Katzer et al., 1982) on the overlap among document representations. In the earlier study, one representation used in the INSPEC database proved to perform unexpectedly well in comparison with other commonly used representations, such as controlled vocabulary or free-text terms from…

This presented paper offers an elementary description of database characteristics and then provides a survey of databases that may be useful to the teacher and researcher in Slavic and East European languages and literatures. The survey focuses on commercial databases that are available, usable, and needed. Individual databases discussed include:…

This self-paced workbook presents basic information about features of the "AppleWorks" software package, provides practice materials for beginners, discusses features available in an integrated three-application package, and provides guided hands-on activities. The applications include the spreadsheet, the word processor, printer options…

Information is provided on the data sources and tools used in-house at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). The objective of the guide is to serve as a central resource for the various data management and analysis activities of NCHEMS. Summaries are provided of NCHEMS information and analytic resources including…

This manual is a "how to" training device for developing spreadsheet files in the AppleWorks program using an Apple IIe or Apple IIGS Computer with a single disk drive. The manual provides step-by-step directions, and includes 36 figures depicting the computer screen at the various stages of the spreadsheet development sequence. (EW)

This digest answers the following questions that beginning or novice users may have about CD-ROM (a compact disk with read-only memory) database services: (1) What is CD-ROM? (2) What databases are available? (3) Is CD-ROM difficult to use? (4) How much does CD-ROM cost? and (5) What is the future of CD-ROM? (15 references) (MES)

This two-volume annual report is the first in a series of reports summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) program. The first volume reviews the work of the ERIC Clearinghouses and two other ERIC components, the ERIC Processing and Reference Facility and the ERIC Document Reproduction…

This two-volume annual report is the first in a series of reports summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) program. The second volume discusses trends and issues in the areas of education covered by each of the clearinghouses. These discussions focus on critical research findings and…

This report describes approaches to database translation (i.e., transferring data and data definitions from a source, either a database management system (DBMS) or a batch file, to a target DBMS), and recommends a method for representing the data structures of newly-proposed network and relational data models in a form suitable for database…

This report describes the multidimensional scaling (MDS) method for interpreting collection overlap based on the number of books held by pairs of libraries in large groups (as many as 100 libraries or more). MDS results for four groups of libraries sampled from the OCLC database are also presented. MDS is described as a class of data-analytic or…

This digest describes the traditional, new, and emerging points of access to the ERIC system: (1) traditional print access; (2) online access through commercial vendors; (3) CD-ROM; and (4) ERIC Digests Online. Also described are services offered by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources (ERIC/IR) that provide access to the system--ERIC…

This workbook for participants in a 1988 Texas State Library workshop is designed to provide a step by step outline for the full process of bibliographic, item, and patron conversion from paper files to an online environment; to orient participants to various methods and major vendors of bibliographic retrospective conversion; and to provide a…