We discuss methods that can improve response rates in large-scale cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Regardless of the specific study topic, sample member population, or method of contact, data collections should be designed with certain core principles in mind: legitimizing the study to prospective participants; presenting study…

This article discusses the author's experience as President of the California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE), beginning in the Spring of 2014. The author established a personal goal to improve the relationship with members by reaching out and hearing their concerns. A membership survey was created and administered to members, delegates, and…

This paper presents a project which was conducted in a capstone course in Information Security. The project focused on conducting research concerning the various aspects of phishing, such as why phishing works and who is more likely to be deceived by phishing. Students were guided through the process of conducting research: finding background and…

Even though Material Bookings modules have existed in some form for over 20 years, studies remain curiously absent from the literature. In an effort to begin this dialogue, a case study of implementing Innovative's Material Bookings module at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Criss Library is presented. A survey assessing user satisfaction and…

This chapter explores student learning in an international setting and the importance that students place on the international setting when they are considering where to study abroad. It examines how the social distance of foreign sites from America has been reduced in recent years due to globalization, politics, the Internet, internationalization…

The perceived advantages and disadvantages of courses taught in online and face-to-face learning environments were explored for students taking an accounting and a data collection and analysis course. Both courses were taught in a face-to-face learning environment at the main or satellite campus. It was hypothesized that there would be…

The authors, both of whom are working at the Musselman library, relate how they are always looking for ways to improve and update their reference service. When they introduced a chat reference service to their online library services, they received only four inquiries in the entire year 2002-2003. The authors found out later that the paltry number…

Research regarding the optimal fielding of online surveys is in its infancy and just beginning to offer clear suggestions for effective recruiting of participants as well as techniques for maximizing the response rate. In this article, the authors discuss the process of recruiting participants by e-mailing invitations to a list of recipients…

Describes an electronic survey indicating that there is a wide variety of methods that are currently used in United Kingdom higher education institutions to support undergraduate learning. Raises awareness of what colleagues are doing and promotes an exchange of ideas. (Author/ASK)

Increasingly community colleges are challenged to improve the basic skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening their students need for success in the business world and for transfer to a senior college. One attempt to meet the challenge has been to incorporate more writing assignments into classrooms across all disciplines. Concurrent with…

Describes the potential of a FirstClass server in audioconferencing courses at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks using telecommunications, e-mail, student-to-student interaction, submission of assignments, e-mail, timely instructor feedback, and the transfer of files and multimedia documents. Student surveys indicated some positive aspects of…

Demonstrates how electronic mail and the World Wide Web are effective tools for focus group research and programmatic decision making by highlighting how an electronic needs assessment survey was conducted on participants' use of the Web. Sidebars contain the four-step focus group methodology; sample questions and responses; and a comparison of…

Describes the emergence of the cyberspace college, defined as the informal exchange of scholarly information communicated over informal electronic networks. A history and description of academic computer conferences, results of participant surveys, and the impact of this new communication medium on informal academic communication are discussed.…

This collection of documents contains four papers: (1) "An Orientation Seminar for Prospective Wine Science and Viticulture Students" (A. V. Hood), which describes an innovation organized by staff involved in the external teaching of wine science and viticulture who sought to break down the barriers and concerns of prospective students…

Recently the Educational Testing Service (ETS) has modified its Student Instructional Report II (SIR II) for use in online distance education courses. The SIR II is a second-generation survey based on more than thirty years of experience with student evaluations (Centra, 1998; Centra and Gaubatz, n.d.). The e-SIR II is based on the highly…