To help schools and districts in their efforts to create more productive and effective learning environments, Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) researchers developed the School Practices Survey, a tool districts and schools can use to assess teachers, administrators, and others in the school community regarding their…

There is increasing concern among child care providers and states as to whether the methodology and data collection mechanisms of the various market rate surveys used by each state accurately capture the rates charged by child care providers. This paper examines issues related to market rate surveys as the customary method of determining…

The Project on Secondary Analysis directed its attention to methodology and policy issues, focusing on reanalysis of existing data (1979-82)--surveys, program evaluations, etc.--as a vehicle for learning how to improve methods of obtaining and analyzing data, designing program evaluations, and constructing policy to enhance the quality and utility…

Assessments of campus climates can be difficult and be accomplished by several methods, according to purpose. However, a well-designed survey can yield comprehensive and substantive data about the characteristics of people in the institution, workings of programs and policies, and interaction of these elements to inform institutional decision…

A survey of 250 colleges and universities gathered information on the use of market research concerning admitted applicants. Results indicated over half the institutions use market research and offer information about specific methodologies, budgetary support, and use of results. A content analysis of questionnaires used is also presented.…

Questionnaires were sent to the office of academic affairs or its equivalent in each of the 89 U.S. academic members of the Association of Research Libraries to elicit the opinions of non-library university administrators on the issue of faculty status for academic librarians. Data gathered from 32 state institutions and 15 private institutions…

Describes the many sources of data available to school districts for enrollment planning and suggests a way to use them in planning new facilities. Among the sources cited are census data; building permits; migration; and surveys of districts, utilities, and residences. (MLF)

This paper addresses the issue of how one might go about providing a reasonable answer to the question of how many students will enroll in a new academic program at a university and applies the principles to the process of estimating demand for a new collegiate aviation program. A combination of approaches is suggested, including the following:…

The author of a survey of 254 college public relations officers (HE 531 785) describes briefly the underlying definitions, design, and results of the study, and makes comparisons between this and an earlier study of college presidents. Discussion of methodology focuses on respondent characteristics and consistency of definition. (MSE)

Market research, important for professional renewal, is a critical part of continuing education program planning. It includes attention to learning needs and learner motivation to participate in continuing education. Informal market research makes use of internal sources, such as enrollment data, program evaluations, policy statements, and staff…

Methods used to measure college faculty salary compression (i.e., the extent to which new faculty salaries are approaching those of existing faculty at the same or higher rank) are presented. Administrator methods of addressing the issue of salary compression are also discussed, based on a survey of 10 college provosts. (Author/MSE)

This booklet provides some systematic guidelines for assisting educational planners to discriminate between high-quality educational research and research that should not be relied on for decision making. The guidelines focus on educational research studies that employ either experimental or survey-research methodologies. A checklist is presented…

Basic and practical information on how to do opinion surveys and how to apply the information gathered for use in student recruitment, public relations, and other advancement programs is presented. In addition, 12 sample questionnaires are included that have helped colleges and universities measure the opinions of alumni, students, faculty/staff,…

Response of colleges and universities to surveys from publishers of college guides and popular newsstand magazines is discussed, and considerations in developing a standard survey response are explored. These include the advantages and limitations of standardized information formats, how much of the information reaches prospective students, how…

Analysis of journal article titles indicates research administrators' interests and concerns have turned from research administration as an occupation to the nature and sociolegal aspects of research, reflecting the changing environment of research. (MSE)