This paper argues that feelings of agency are linked to human well-being through a sequence of adaptive mechanisms that promote human development, once existential conditions become permissive. In the first part, we elaborate on the evolutionary logic of this model and outline why an evolutionary perspective is helpful to understand changes in…

A study of 23 Ohio Extension agents who had multicounty responsibilities was conducted to determine how they were adjusting to their new positions. Responses from 21 agents showed that they thought the experience stimulating, frustrating, and exhausting. Indicated that they need adequate support staff and time-saving equipment. (JOW)

This paper uses the subject of job satisfaction to compare subject access by ERIC descriptors and Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH). A description of the study methodology precedes a definition of job satisfaction and background information on the topic. Lists of ERIC and LCSH equivalents to job satisfaction subject terms developed by…

Reports results of materials availability surveys conducted in public library systems and discusses implications of the findings for validity, reliability, and usefulness of fill rates as measures of library performance. A second paper presents another view in defense of fill rates, and responses by both authors are also included. (MES)

Describes the origins of parenting stress, namely, tensions in the parent-child relationship and changes that occur in five family domains as men and women make the transition from life as a couple to family life. Implications for public policy are discussed. (Author/BB)

To investigate managerial use of work (or role) overload to increase productivity, the author studied 77 nonclerical white-collar employees and found that work overload had negative effects on productivity, supervisors' ratings, employee attitudes, job satisfaction, and health. He recommends ways for managers and employees to reduce work overload.…

Discussion of probabilistic information retrieval systems highlights the probability ranking principle and discusses when the standard retrieval policy is optimal. Topics discussed include calibration and refinement; independent assessment of relevance by the inquirer; certainty about the computed probabilities of relevance; and confidence and…

This section on career transition for attorneys discusses career choice and satisfaction; lawyers as outplacement clients; lawyers' career concerns; Myers-Briggs type preference of lawyers and career counselors; career assessment tools and resources; lawyers and contract work; and helping lawyers change their jobs without changing employers. (JOW)

Develops a preliminary model of workplace dynamics based on behaviors rather than attitudes and argues that the behavioral categories of good soldier, smooth operator, and saboteur are key modes of adaptation. The model facilitates the integration of studies of the workplace with broader themes in a way not allowed by the concept of job…

Using social exchange theory as a framework, Bartlett's study of 337 nurses found that perceived access to and support for training, learning motivation, and perceived training benefits are positively related to organizational commitment, especially affective commitment. Contains 67 references. Klein's reaction addresses conceptual and…

Explores the fundamentals of browsing behavior as a basis for the creation of an intelligent computer system to assist in online information retrieval. A prototype system is described, and the results of initial tests are reported. (5 references) (Author/CLB)

Argues that, given a document and a query, users first judge the document against the individual concepts in the query and then use some inferencing process to derive a compound judgment for the entire query. The research examines the relative effectiveness of probabilistic and fuzzy models at predicting users' compound judgments. (23 references)…

This evaluation of Predicasts' PROMT megafile and its implications for online searchers includes a comparison of sample searches of company and product data in PROMT and a control database, a critical evaluation of company documentation, and a survey of PROMT users. (CLB)

Reports results of a survey of 800 library staff members on aspects of library work that they find stressful. The findings include sources of satisfaction and stress for all participants, and sources of stress specific to public services librarians, technical services librarians, and support staff members. (CLB)

Discusses a study that followed roughly equivalent samples of vocational and nonvocational graduates. Includes personal comments and advice bearing on the school-to-work transition. (JOW)