In measuring the characteristics of mass-communication audiences, three dimensions are frequently used: demographics, social class, and psychological characteristics. The author proposes a fourth, "life style," which offers reliable data, is more colorful than demographics and more useful than psychological characteristics. This dimension is…

Past studies of media credibility have yielded contradictory results. In some research, television has the most credibility, while in others, radio or newspapers have the most. A probable reason for this is the way survey questions are phrased. In asking for a "major source of news," some questions focus on the "most likely medium" for news in…

This research project deals with grade level, sex, GPA, formal library science class and reading achievement level of junior high school students. These were studied in relation to library attitude, usage, skill and knowledge. The card catalog, vertical file, periodicals, and reference books were evaluated to obtain statistics for the conclusions…

This paper summarizes the results of a study comparing the usage, expenditures, services, collections, and staffing of elementary school library media centers by type of structural design, i.e., either open space or self contained classroom type. It suggests that school personnel, particularly the principal and library media specialist, rather…

At Thornwood High School in South Holland, Illinois, data processing now plays an important role in the development of audiovisual services. (Author)

Reasons for the underutilization or misuse and the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of advisory committees in community college vocational programs are reviewed and discussed from the experience of community college administrators. The article also notes the duties of local advisory committees and how committees can be involved in college…

Requests for published materials made over a two-year period by 79 research fellows in the humanities are analyzed by format, date of publication, subject, and language. The results of this study are compared with results of citation and library use studies, and discrepancies are noted. (Author/CLB)

A study of the collection of college catalogs at a medium-sized university library found that they are used by many types of clients in addition to undergraduates; users need a current, comprehensive collection and are not bothered by a lack of shelf order; use is enough to justify the collection. (Author/EM)

Establishes theoretical framework for solution of problem confronting academic libraries--growth in number of journals and surge in prices--by showing how concentration of usage is function of sociobibliometric laws based on cumulative advantage principle. Use of citation indexes in academic evaluation and library collection development is…

Tests assumption of Markovity in library circulation data using data obtained from Ohio State University Libraries (1975-78) and Rodda's "An Analysis System for Statistical Analysis of Markov Chains" as test instrument. Implications of Markov properties, constraints of data, and testing are discussed. Explanation of transition frequency…

Discusses the use of optical disk technology in online searching and compares three versions of the ERIC database currently available on optical disk in terms of hardware requirements, ease of installation, scope and cost of the system, search procedures, displaying and printing results, and documentation and user support. (CLB)

A series of articles addresses issues concerning decision support and knowledge based systems. Topics covered include knowledge-based systems for information centers; object oriented systems; strategic information systems case studies; user perception; manipulation of certainty factors by individuals and expert systems; spreadsheet program use;…

"Cued Typing" is a computerized communication message preparation program, written for Apple II Plus, using frequency-based prediction algorithms and menu selection to reduce word cost while maintaining vocabulary flexibility. "Cued Typing" was more efficient than letter-by-letter typing, but word cost was still quite high, and…

Analysis of responses of gifted students (N=220) at a university laboratory high school to a questionnaire about the school library indicated that students frequently used the library for informational and recreational materials; were generally satisfied with library materials; and were avid readers tending to view less television than nongifted…

Discusses the theoretical foundations of the library media center in education and summarizes the results of a survey of secondary teachers and students at six francophone comprehensive high schools in the Montreal area that examined their use of and attitudes toward the library. Topics for further research are suggested. (CLB)