This manual, the first part of a guide to assist colleges in field-testing the survey instrument, "Student Goals Exploration" (SGE), is a non-technical treatment for use by faculty members in their classes. The SGE is a comprehensive survey instrument designed to measure student goals for attending college and for enrolling in specific…

The purposes and nature of institutional research are described as well as its role in institutional governance and of the contributions it can make to the functioning of postsecondary institutions. The first section in the booklet discusses the nature and purposes of institutional research by describing several forms of research and comparing and…

Several reference librarians respond to the Hernon and McClure study on the accuracy of library reference services. Highlights include problems with the methodology used (unobtrusive observation), and performance factors not addressed by the study. Comments by Hernon and McClure address these responses and ways to improve reference services are…

Results of survey of 44 academic libraries indicate that: foreign students have problems in using library; instruction for foreign students should be offered as separate program; type of instruction and degree of coordination between library and other areas on campus differs markedly. Program idea sources and 18 references are included. (EJS)

The statistical methods used by courts and regulatory agencies to analyze data relating to equal employment and affirmative action are reviewed, along with suggested methods for colleges and universities to produce more meaningful Equal Employment Opportunity management documents. (MSE)

Research on voluntary college mergers led to development of a model predicting the probability of a merger with 80-100 percent accuracy. The model was based on fundamental governing board concerns about mission, risk, and reputation. Results reveal the merger negotiation process is dynamic and reveals characteristics of successful approaches. (MSE)

The use of contingency tables in creating a statistical profile of a college student population is explained. The method provides simultaneous cross-indexed frequency distribution of two database fields. Common uses are discussed, and application is illustrated in a hypothetical student retention study. Extensions for nonnumerical fields and…

College and university fund raisers are encouraged to test various strategies for direct-mail solicitation by comparing variations of five factors that influence direct mail response: copy; timing; package; offer; and list. Suggestions include forming a hypothesis, testing one variable at a time, choosing test and control groups carefully,…

This paper examines the study and practice of academic fund raising, reviewing the major trends in both the scholarly and professional literature and summarizing recent research on the topic. It considers the history of academic fund raising, institutional advancement, and the psychology of giving, discussing research that looks at the social and…

This manual is a guide to the "Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire" (MSLQ) for assessing college students' motivational orientations and their use of different learning strategies for a college course. The MSLQ, based on a general cognitive view of motivation and learning strategies, contains two sections. The motivation…

Third in a series, the monograph summarizes the key evaluation issues, design approaches, and statistical techniques used in conducting the 1980-1983 impact evaluation of Indian Education Act Title IV Part A programs. The monograph describes the major problems in evaluating the program to determine the degree of its positive contribution to…

Designed to provide basic guidelines and examples that can be used by community colleges for organizing and conducting community impact studies, this booklet describes the experiences of Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC), Eastfield College (EC), and Valencia Community College (VCC) in conducting their impact studies. Introductory material…

Recent surveys have shown that the basic speech communication course, designed to introduce students to the discipline and to meet their basic proficiency needs, is alive and growing rapidly. While this is generally good news, a more critical examination reveals a variety of issues in need of resolution. A significant amount of course time is…

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)