Responses from 72 Irish companies identified 51 using total quality management (TQM); second-survey responses from 28 of the latter showed that 57% of TQM initiatives were successful or very successful; most have a good understanding of comprehensive TQM and value long-term over short-term results. Benefits were experienced throughout…

Investigates recidivism among 480 male graduates of a boot camp in the south. Fifty-eight percent returned to the Department of Corrections during the study period. Predictors included sociodemographic variables, scales on the Jesness Inventory, self-esteem, resilience, peer association and influence, future expectations, and several factors…

Examines the effect of Reading Recovery, an early intervention program for first-grade children, on the rates of referral and placement in special education in New York City. The results showed that children who received the Reading Recovery program were referred for testing and placed in special education at a statistically significant lower…

Evaluated the effectiveness of an arts-based educational program, Basic Reading through Dance. Results for 328 first-grade program participants, compared with 393 comparison students, suggest that participants improved significantly more in reading skills that were assessed. (SLD)

Describes how members of the English Department at Texas Tech University redesigned their site as an open system in which control is distributed among department members. Describes the conversational approach they used to redesign the site, applies it to a critique of the original web site, then describes changes they implemented to remake the…

Project KICK (Kids in Cooperation with Kids) is a delinquency prevention program for at-risk youth that uses nontraditional approaches to stress management. Twelve African American children who were taught physical, cognitive, and experiential models of stress reduction and management reported that they enjoyed the program, and they demonstrated…

The food safety knowledge of 22 inner-city Missouri youth from low-income families was assessed before and after a 4-week summer program. Posttest results showed dramatic changes in beliefs. However, topics such as irradiation, eating raw cookie dough, and safety of produce in grocery stores showed little change. (SK)

Presents results of a meta-analysis of studies that compare drug prevention programs led by peers to the same program led by adults. Overall, peer-led programs were found to be somewhat more effective than adult-led programs. It is concluded that the effectiveness of a prevention program is determined by several characteristics of the program.…

Studied two effective school improvement programs in elementary education in the Netherlands. Although the programs had the same goals, their strategies were different. Identified successful characteristics of both programs and found evidence for the success of both approaches. (SLD)

Examines the case of one small business manager and the value he gave to a mentoring intervention demonstrated by the use of narrative evaluation. Doubts about the efficacy of orthodox approaches to evaluation when applied to management development activities lead to the view that narratives are more appropriate. (Contains 38 references.) (GCP)

Investigates whether participation in the Comprehensive Labor and Employment Opportunities (CLEO) program had a positive impact on client self-concept. Results revealed that participation in the CLEO program could lead to improvement in the self-concept of disabled individuals. However, the program did not improve how participants perceived…

Describes a Research Support Group formed at Purdue University for doctoral students whose progress on their dissertations had stalled. Presents some preliminary outcome data; a discussion of the program's effectiveness, foregrounding the voices of the participants; and some projections for the future. (EV)

Presents topics for parents to consider when selecting and evaluating a preschool program, including: teacher qualifications, licensing and accreditation, environment, physical activity, safety and security, social atmosphere, planning and goals, parent involvement, discipline, intellectual development, and program and class size. Two sidebars…

Examines the results of a comprehensive, multifaceted longitudinal school-based prevention program, which focuses on enhancing protective factors with the goal of promoting positive youth development, reducing identified risk factors, and preventing adolescent problem behaviors. Results reveal that Raising Healthy Children participants had…

Presents a rationale for conducting training needs assessment and discusses types of analyses: organizational, task, and individual. Compares advantages and disadvantages of the following assessment methods: surveys, interviews, performance appraisals, observations, tests, assessment centers, focus groups, document reviews, and advisory…