Despite over 30 years of review and analysis, researchers still are unclear as to what W.H. Crockett's Role Category Questionnaire (RCQ) of interpersonal differentiation actually measures. Among the constructivists, at least four different explanations have been advanced. The "orthodox" interpretation holds that the RCQ constitutes a…

Based on a study of how eight states have pursued educational reform, this booklet reviews new issues facing school finance as a result of the recent upsurge of interest in educational improvement. The booklet has four sections. The first section discusses changing state fiscal and political contexts within which reforms are being debated. Section…

Described are practices of 70 home-schooling families who resided in southwestern lower Michigan in Fall, 1987. A literature review discusses: (1) philosophical roots of the home education movement; (2) concern for the socialization of home-educated children; (3) reasons why home-schooling is considered a good educational alternative; (4) state…

This brief review of research examines the mail questionnaire as a research tool. Major topics reported are the advantages and disadvantages of mail surveys response rates, and questionnaire construction. Among the advantages reported are ease of distribution and tabulation, the possibility of a large sample and geographic range, low cost,…

The study was a descriptive field survey conducted to evaluate the services provided by the Division of Research Evaluation and Data Processing (REDP). An analysis was made to determine whether the information was used by the consumer for the same purposes for which the producers intended. An investigation was conducted to determine if a service…

This paper examines contemporary forces stimulating school-home partnerships and discusses parent program measures that can be used in needs assessment, evaluation, planning, and special research applications. The first half of the paper briefly examines some influences causing schools to become more involved with parents, such as legislation and…

Through a nationally-administered questionnaire and a literature review, this report explores developments in the psychology of self-planned learning. The introduction presents a review of the current literature, hypotheses concerning the motivation and methods of adult learning, and assumptions made for this survey. The questionnaire was…

A survey of 113 Texas libraries examined characteristics of reference positions to determine whether there were important similarities and differences between public and academic libraries in the areas of professional qualifications for employment; job skills and responsibilities; work scheduling; benefits; and departmental characteristics. The…

Reports on a study of the information-seeking behavior of users of Infotrac, OCLC, Newsbank Electronic Index, and LS/2 at the Bowling Green State University Libraries. Data gathered via interviews are discussed as they pertain to the user's profile; understanding of systems functions; effects on information-seeking behavior; and appropriateness of…

Combines a software review with a suggestion for a format that will allow a fair comparison between similar software packages and will also be more complete, accurate, and meaningful to the potential user of the software. The software package "Le Francais Par Ordinateur" is reviewed by this method. (SED)

Discusses the external, inductive, and deductive approaches to personality scale construction, and argues that none is consistently superior in terms of validity or predictive effectiveness. Also argues that since deductive scales normally communicate information more directly and are more economical to build and administer, they should be used…

Discusses the adoption of "Standards for University Libraries" in 1978/79 by Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), including the definition of universities and colleges, ARL/ACRL committees, the standards, and a survey of 88 library directors concerning usefulness of standards.…

Explores relationship between per capita expenditures (inputs) for selected public services (law enforcement, education, medical, libraries, parks) and two output measures (objective performance measure and subjective measures of 8,882 citizens' perceptions in 100 different size counties in North Carolina.) Indicates per capita expenditures are…

Explores the variety of depository arrangements among international agencies, concentrating on the United Nations depository program. Merits and limitations of selected depository operations and the experiences of selected librarians are discussed to develop suggestions for improvement. There are 14 references and a questionnaire. (RAA)

Questionnaire data and existing literature about women administrators reveal that women executives view themselves differently from the minority of women who held comparable positions a decade ago. A "new breed" of women has arisen to assume responsibilities of public colleges in the 1980s. (Author/BEF)