This article develops a production frontier model for the Employment Service and assesses the relative efficiency of the 51 State Employment Security Agencies in attaining program outcomes close to that frontier. This approach stands in contrast to such established practices as comparing programs to their own previous performance. (Author/CT)

Discusses the use of microcomputers in science education: (1) computer-assisted instruction; (2) testing; (3) data processing; (4) simulation; (5) teacher assistance; and (6) data collection. Gives educational applications of microcomputer-based laboratories, pointing out advantages and disadvantages. Outlines current drawbacks and makes…

Used experimental tasks--spontaneous telling of a story, reading, and parsing--to determine whether empirical data reflect narrative structure of stories. It was concluded that spontaneous pausing reflects the narrative structure and can be used as a guide to constructing theories of narrative structure and deciding between competing theories.…

A study to provide some measurable benchmarks of the advancement process at small colleges is described. Data are presented on budgets, spending per function, professional staff, chief advancement officer, support staff, recruitment costs, fund-raising revenues and costs, and developing institutions. (MLW)

In a study of the social processes of undergraduate pharmacy education, extensive observations and interviews were conducted with 35 pharmacy students and 18 pharmacy preceptors as they participated in two hospital clerkships affiliated with one school of pharmacy. (Author/JLW)

Distinguishes between assumptions underlying naturalistic inquiry and experimentalism; summarizes the consequent methodologies, data analysis techniques and characteristic results associated with naturalistic inquiry; describes naturalistic study of a large-scale instructional development program; presents study results and their characteristics…

This study of training needs utilized a questionnaire to assess participant's opinions of knowledge level that should exist and knowledge level that does exist in 25 content areas and analyzed the resultant data using three different approaches: mean difference analysis, multicomponent data analysis, and weighted need index. (MBR)

Spatial mapping is a category system for directly observing instruction in art classrooms. A rationale for studying the spatial dimensions of teaching is presented, how to train observers is explained, procedures involved in a mapping episode are described, methods for analyzing data are suggested, and examples of instruments are presented.…

Discusses learner/computer interaction, learner control, sequencing of instructional events, and graphic screen design as effective principles for the design of instructional software, including tutorials. (MBR)

Demonstrates how case study evaluation concentrates on a single situation to present a holistic view of an experiential learning program and reveals unique and unanticipated features. Outlines steps of planning, gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, and reporting data and considers the advantages and disadvantages of the case study approach. (LFL)

A meta-analysis of studies examining the criterion validity of student course evaluation data is discussed. Results indicate that the overall size of effect is not only highly significant, but also very meaningful when analyzed in relation to enhancing the likelihood of making more accurate tenure decisions. (Author/MLW)

The potential effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) as a medium to provide continuing pharmaceutical education was evaluated. Assessment of educational needs, development of a CAI program and a criterion-referenced test, and evaluation instrument to determine the effectiveness of CAI continuing education are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Data from the National Child Development Study show changes in reading and math attainment between ages of 7 and 11 for children of different social classes and family sizes. For any given 7-year attainment, the variables and changes are associated with different 11-year attainments. (Author/AV)

Authors argued that changes in high-school characteristics like teacher experience, class size, and social composition are unlikely to change high-school effectiveness, and that holding schools accountable for one outcome is unlikely to guarantee effectiveness on another. (Editor/RK)

The author discusses a common error in marriage research, i.e. use of a control group. Single scores which are correlated require no randomized control group. Two arrays of scores which are correlated generally require a randomized control group. (Author/HMV)