The Carnegie classification system has served as a framework for research on colleges and universities for more than 30 years. Today, the system's developers are exploring criteria that more effectively differentiate among institutions. One approach being considered is classifying institutions based on students' educational experiences. This study…

Possible respondents in a 1974 survey of University of Kentucky doctoral graduates were sent either computer-prepared or offset-printed questionnaires, personalized and identical in content. Overall response rates were similar except when the responses were categorized by the academic major of each recipient. (Editor/LBH)

The idea that knowledge is a major determinant of policy in industry and government is discussed with reference to Harold Wilensky's book, "Organizational Intelligence: Knowledge and Policy in Government and Industry." Implications for academe's institutional research activities are considered. (LBH)

A study of community college faculty and administrators' preferences for possible college directions and institutional images, their congruence, and their relationship to certain demographic variables, is reported. Support of the comprehensiveness of community colleges was found to be high. (MSE)

New job listings show the market demand for economists between 1975 and 1984 led the supply and was far more volatile than the number of doctorates awarded. Although graduate economic specialties have remained stable and the specialists ranked by employers have been constant, they show no comparative agreement. (Author/MSE)

This paper provides an overview of research that I have conducted during my career using data sets collected by offices of institutional research. Many of the examples discussed in the paper deal with graduate education. The paper illustrates how valuable the data collection efforts by these offices are to academic researchers interested in…

Reviews a procedure used on a state system to determine its major future research needs, to analyze them for completeness, and to provide insight into the various viewpoints held by decision-makers. (JT)

This article suggests that the choice by institutional researchers to use qualitative or quantitative research is often dictated by time, money, resources, and staff and not necessarily with an understanding of the underlying philosophical assumptions structuring beliefs about methodology, knowledge, and reality. These underlying assumptions are…

Institutional research in higher education is seen as comprised of three levels of intelligence/information: (1) technical and analytical; (2) understanding of student, faculty, financial, and facilities issues; and (3) contextual intelligence concerning the culture of higher education and the particular institution. Knowledge and skills required…

Based on a national survey of college administrators' (n=3,333) views of planning, this study investigated the relationship between having a chief planning officer to coordinate planning functions and perceptions of and attitudes toward campus planning. Results suggest the presence of a planner increased perceptions of more rational and…

Reports an exploratory study designed to describe the development of the scales, investigate concerns regarding student perceptions of a large university, and examine in a standard research situation the viability of a new method of multidimensional analysis (order analysis, proposed as an inferential alternative to factor analysis). (JT)

A 3-dimensional model was developed to assess impact of institutional research studies. Elements are short, intermediate, and long-range time components; acceptance, non response, and rejection actions; and primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences. A variety of criterion measures and instruments have been identified to assist in model…

Using concepts suggested by Merton and Hagstrom, this study developed measures of "recognition" and "association" to assess student awareness of ambient research in their departments. Findings from a survey of 470 students show a high level of research awareness. (Author/LBH)

A literature review concerning the relationship of institutional research and the institution's decision-making process reveals a wide range of opinion. A recurring theme is the precarious position of the researcher in the unique organization of higher education. Most sources agree that the institutional research office must be perceived as…

Several benefits resulting from the relaxation of the tenure-system-freeze policy are described. A modification of the system calls for administrators to allow a certain quota of appointments into the tenure system each year, rather than making all new appointments outside the tenure system. The AAUP tenure policy is considered in this regard.…