How people treat each other in their daily interactions seems to be profoundly important and even central to the definition of a "civilized" society. This nationwide survey examined what Americans are thinking about courtesy, manners, rudeness, and respect. Data were gathered through a random sample telephone survey of 2,013 adults…

Describes three techniques for evaluating educational media: questionnaires, continuous reaction measures, and focus group interviews. Purposes of media evaluation are identified as finding out audience reaction and developing effective methods to use media in teaching. (Author/JJD)

Surveys and focus groups involving students from high schools with condom availability programs assessed health risk behaviors and perceptions of school environment, program effectiveness, and program improvement. Students supported such programs. Students worried about privacy when obtaining condoms, recommending private locations for accessing…

Describes the BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) communications network in upstate New York, highlighting the system's contribution to building community support for public schools via focus groups, press relations, printed and video newsletters to targeted audiences, and the information superhighway. Guidelines for creating and…

Studied the effectiveness of a teacher training approach in which preservice mathematics teachers conduct and analyze one-to-one mathematics assessment interviews with primary-aged children. Findings from interviews with five teachers and a focus group of six indicate teachers are more aware of the strategies children use including their variety…

Explored user perceptions of dependability and accuracy of Texas A&M library services through focus groups. Reports user difficulties in locating materials, inaccurate catalog and circulation records, inadequate signage, searching the online catalog, and late notification of interlibrary loan arrivals; and discusses the library's efforts to…

Summarizes the literature explaining focus group interview techniques and provides ideas on how they can be used for needs assessment and program evaluation in libraries and information centers. Discussion includes focus group session objectives, the level of moderator involvement, various methodologies, data analysis, and reporting in qualitative…

Analysis of focus group discussions, involving 21 family members (having young children with disabilities) and 19 professionals, identified issues associated with families' use of time in the area of needed supports and time as a constraint. Implications are discussed in relation to developing early intervention programs. (DB)

About 20% of Canadian children live in poverty. The idea that wealth influences achievement is being denied. Although the government promised that half the "fiscal dividend" would be reinvested in children, it held focus groups instead. Meanwhile, a research finding about poor parenting has grabbed media attention. (MLH)

Thirty-eight Hispanic parents of children (ages 6-26) with developmental disabilities and 22 professionals participated in focus group interviews on group action planning. Both constituency groups identified advantages and disadvantages to group action planning. Parents indicated this type of planning process could increased the quality and…

Presents results of focus group interviews conducted with 22 Asian American students at a large Midwestern state university to explore issues related to their experiences inside and outside the classroom, their relationships with instructors and students, the effect of their identity on teaching and learning, learning style preferences, and their…

Discusses the results of focus groups and surveys that asked teenagers their opinions of libraries and library services. Highlights include access to technology; customer service for students; library space for teens; books and materials; rules, regulations, and hours; jobs and service opportunities; and marketing toward teens. (LRW)

Summarizes 87 teachers' comments about parent involvement in a focus-group study. Participants shared their positive and negative experiences working with parents. Schools can help by creating time and support for teachers' efforts, providing ongoing professional support and training for creating effective home-school partnerships, revamping…

Presents a humorous treatment of the "sessio taurino" (or humanistic inquiry) technique for describing changes in technological models. The fundamental tool of "sessio taurino" is a loosely-structured event known as the session, which is of indeterminate length, involves a flexible number of participants, and utilizes a…

Explored classroom teaching challenges faced by African American faculty at a predominantly white college. Focus group interviews with black faculty indicated that the teachers believed white students felt their standards were too high and did not match white professors' expectations. They said that persistent student complaints and harassment…