There is a communications gap between library users and the cataloger. Library of Congress classification may not seem logical to the user not indoctrinated into Library-Think.'' The author urges reference workers to be aware of and try to bridge the gap. (DH)

Reports the findings of a survey on the use of computer simulation in industry. Discusses the current uses of simulation, user reaction, various programing languages used in simulation, and important trends in computer modeling. (Author/JJD)

Summarizes the results of an evaluative study on the use of computer-assisted instruction at the Open University in Great Britain. Student responses on questionnaires identified computer-related problems such as physical access, equipment malfunction, and program quality. Makes recommendations for the effective use of computer-assisted instruction…

Major goals of study of online systems as reference tools--DIALOG, OCLC, Research Libraries Information Network--in a university library were to evaluate effectiveness of each system as supplement to printed reference tools and public catalog; determine costs; and investigate effectiveness of brief training sessions for reference desk staff.…

An assessment of the demographic, health status, and health care use characteristics of the patients at hospital- and community-based health care centers at one family practice residency location is used to examine the effects these differences may have on resident training. It was found that neither site is clearly preferable for training. (MSE)

Discusses the collection by library managers of demand and use data from their own libraries on a regular basis as a means of answering management questions pertaining to the "cost" of information, staff productivity, and levels of service. Examples of statistical records and recommendations for collecting data are presented. (Author/JL)

This study investigated factors influencing use of evaluative information for decision making by administrators and school boards. The factors investigated included: (1) the quality of the decision to be made; (2) the amount of personal conflict involved; (3) the context of the program, and (4) whether participants were board members or…

Review of selected studies on use of social science information indicates that social scientists tend to use private sources and informal networks rather than libraries; value of citation studies as guides to library collection building is disputed; and machine access to social science databases is increasing. Eighty references are cited. (EJS)

The primary categories of H. S. Bhola's CLER Model (configurations, linkages, environments, resources) were used to organize and annotate textual information presented to 24 specialists in education and in other professions who were involved with diffusion and adoption of knowledge. The specialists considered the Bhola method more effective than…

Derived a representative national nursing home admissions cohort with 1977 survey data. Found that high proportions of admissions have short lengths of stay and are discharged within the same calendar year. (Author/RC)

Part of a special issue on organizational research utilization, this article analyzes two National Institute of Education programs--the Research and Development Utilization Program and the Experimental Schools Program--and finds that a key reason for nonutilization of research is the "policy vacuum" in which research is conducted.…

Presents the results of a joint effort by Northeast Louisiana University and Southeastern Louisiana University to measure user satisfaction with the services of their libraries. The development of a survey instrument is described, the questionnaires designed for faculty and students are discussed, and the results of the studies are analyzed. (JL)

Since the Hotelling-Clawson approach to estimating the demand for recreation resources assumes only one destination with no substitutes, alternative estimation techniques are presented and tested. Implications of the use of these techniques are discussed. (JN)

Reports the results of a survey of historians in different fields which identified the formats from which they obtain information, where they find relevant references, and how they use materials in foreign languages. These findings are compared with those of other surveys and citation studies. Twenty-eight references are cited. (RAA)

Reviews three types of online bibliographic retrieval studies: evaluation studies, including online service costs, manual versus online searching and vendor comparison; use and user studies, examining various populations; and projects designed to improve user access and user aids, such as vocabulary search aids and inter-system compatibility.…