Eight criteria for evaluating microcomputer software are discussed: ability to perform specified tasks, ease of operation, vendor stability, other users' reports, speed of operation, ease of configuration, support from supplier, and quality of documentation. Secondary criteria (e.g., adaptability, expansion potential, security, environment…

Presents a guide to assessing optical data disks based on descriptive evaluation (facts about the product), comparative evaluation (whether the content is available in another form) and use evaluation (who will use it, why, and how). A checklist of evaluation criteria is provided. (CLB)

Begins by discussing what interactive multimedia (IMM) is, why it is used, and how it should be evaluated. A pragmatic approach to evaluation is advocated, and a framework for formative evaluation is proposed, which focuses on formative experimentation. The educational goals of IMM technology and methods of formative experimentation are detailed.…

Reviews strategies for preparing psychosexual evaluations of sex offenders. Suggests report format and these major sections: identifying information, reason for referral, notification of rights, sources of information, mental status, personal and social history, sexual and sexual offense history, test results, opinions, diagnostic impressions,…

Discusses the need for developmental testing of instructional materials and gives two examples of single-subject testing, one for self-instructional materials and one for short-term group instruction. Guidelines for single-subject testing are presented, and suggestions for longer courses are also given. (LRW)

Prepared for Unesco's Records and Archives Management Programme (RAMP), this study is designed to provide archivists, manuscript and museum curators, and other interested information professionals in both industrialized and developing countries with an understanding of the archival character of photographs, and a set of guidelines for the…

Noting that librarians are integral to the library's performance of its educational function, this report argues that faculty status should be extended to academic librarians. This argument is supported by an excerpt from the "Joint Statement on Faculty Status of College and University Librarians," which was developed by the Association…

Presents self-confrontation as method of assessment in counseling with both diagnostic and process-promoting functions. Notes that method gives overall picture of content and organization of client's self while promoting reorganization of self over time. Illustrates method in case study where a young man made important change in his school career.…

Types of performance evaluation for academic librarians are discussed, noting strengths and weaknesses--formats, relative ranking system, dimensionalized ranking system, management by objectives, and degree of participation. Use of appraisal program to aid library administration in monitoring ongoing activity, planning ahead, and motivating…

Explores need for development of validation and certification procedures. Performance measures used for these procedures must come from on-job experiences. Validity of measures depends on similarity of participant's performance to job exercises. Outlines how to develop reliable job performance measures necessary for job certification and…

Prepared for Unesco's Records and Archive Management Programme (RAMP), this study is designed to provide archivists and other interested information professionals with an introduction to machine-readable records and to provide guidelines for the appraisal of their archival value. The study assumes no prior knowledge of machine-readable records and…

Describes attributes of a good computer manual: it should clarify the expected expertise of its audience; use common terminology; provide installation instructions and sufficient high-quality "hands-on" tutorial instruction; list common errors and their corrections; contain an adequate index and a quick reference guide; and be pleasant to use.…

Recommends establishing review processes at both school building and classroom level, and provides checklists for such evaluations. Both together provide a basis for determining the school's handling of equity issues. Also recommends training all school staff with respect to their legal responsibilities. (LHW)

Discussion of factors to be considered in selecting desktop publishing software for the Macintosh microcomputer focuses on the two approaches to such software, i.e., batch and interactive, and three technical considerations, i.e., document, text, and graphics capabilities. Some new developments in graphics software are also briefly described. (MES)

Discusses the importance for information managers of demonstrating the value of information services to the organization and identifies appropriate techniques for performance evaluation and product-oriented cost-benefit analysis. Ten questions developed to provide an agenda for demonstrating information service value are listed. (MES)