Gilkeson and Hanten describe their study of a random sample of 530 baccalaureate level and 504 master's level occupational therapists. Comparisons are made of demographic data, job responsibilities, and professional growth. A critique by Grant of the study follows, discussing the issue of postbaccalaureate education for occupational therapists.…

This essay by the president of the National Council on Foreign Language and International Studies cites figures revealing Americans' ignorance of foreign languages and basic facts concerning the rest of the world. A plan of action is outlined for schools. (MJL)

Recent studies by the University of Texas Research and Development Center for Teacher Education, based on visits to 22 high schools across the nation, suggest that high schools are better than they are usually portrayed as being. If current efforts to improve them are to succeed, however, clearer change strategies are needed. (JBM)

In Portugal, the word "literacy" acquired public importance in October 1995, in the first national literacy assessment report. In the last few years, "reading habits" and not "literacy" became a privileged research object, and it is the amount and kind of reading that is being measured, with the results taken as…

Types of articles appearing in education journals are categorized and explained, and three higher education journals' contents in 1975 and 1980 are examined for their content type, in percentages and numbers of articles of each type. Based on the results, the journals were found lacking in inquiry, theory, and humanism. (MSE)

If community colleges are to continue democratizing postsecondary education and providing the labor market with the skilled manpower the nation needs to sustain a high level of economic growth, better quality data on the effectiveness of programs must be available to both administrators and instructors. (Author)

Emphasizes the use of research that is related to library technical services and notes need for research in four general areas--surveys of predominant practice, library operation case studies, development research, and environment status reports. The impact of library research on decision making is also discussed. Two references are listed. (EJS)

Presents results of a survey on physics teachers' opinions of microcomputers and microprocessor-based teaching aids they have used, including what features were considered most important and advantages/disadvantages of and personal comments about each device. Includes a glossary of terms used in the report. (JN)

The author argues that the national primary survey invites, indeed necessitates, a thorough reappraisal of the purposes, content and management of the primary curriculum. His suggested response involves a comprehensive strategy of analysis and renewal, involving curricular and management components, though within the framework provided by the…

William McCready of the National Opinion Research Center discusses findings of his survey of American and Canadian Catholic youth (ages 14-30) on their attitudes toward religious vocations, membership in Catholic organizations, and their religious education. (Author/SJL)

Suggests such traditional measures of an academic library's worth as volumes added, numbers of serials, total staff, and materials expenditures have no significant correlation to the effectiveness of a library's services or user satisfaction; also that future success in effectiveness lies with cost effective management of available resources. (RAA)

From a survey of leaders in organization development, the authors identified 40 major needed skills which they categorize under four headings: knowledge skills, consulting skills, conceptual skills, and human skills. They discuss concerns and needs in each category, providing a chart of the identified skills for self-evaluation. (MF)

A survey of 425 high school journalism students indicated that these students considered journalism education as an opportunity for learning to improve their writing. These results indicate that journalism education should be taken more seriously as a necessary part of the high school English curriculum. (RL)

Outlines a practical application of Dillman's "synchronized survey model" within a community case study context. Presents step-by-step approach to integrating preference survey data with other data sources in development of a comprehensive land use plan. Considers problems and trade-offs of fitting a research process into practical…

A survey done properly by accepted and scientifically justifiable techniques can provide information on behalf of the goals of institutional advancement in academe. Deficiencies in institutional research are seen as the result of the lack of guidance on survey design, questionnaire construction, or problem definition in education research texts.…