This brief text serves as an introduction to the vocabulary, concepts and application of data processing. It is intended to provide the professional educator with a working vocabulary in the areas of: (1) unit record data processing; (2) data processing systems; (3) computer-centered data processing; (4) programing; (5) approaches to data processing; and (6) decision-making models. The text is designed to be self instructional, and it contains periodic questions to test the learner's comprehension. (EMH)