Discusses nine factors to consider when attempting to determine what kind of information and how much information a superintendent should supply to a school board concerning district operations. (PGD)

Based in part on a list developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for use in Afghanistan, this document presents a comprehensive checklist of items of statistical and descriptive data required for planning a national communication system. It is noted that such a system provides the vital…

Noting that having research evidence to recommend or refute specific policy choices is especially relevant in this era of increased demand for accountability in human services and government, this fact sheet details 10 criteria with which to evaluate the worth of research reports. The 10 criteria or considerations are: (1) consider the source; (2)…

A study was sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to: (1) document and analyze the information needs of various groups (e.g., the legislature, state agencies, and community colleges) with respect to the state's community colleges and to prepare a matrix of information needs and uses; (2) inventory the…

Noting that obtaining facts and figures on important policy issues related to children is the critical first step toward identifying what is working and what needs improvement, this Kids Count guide is designed to help local community members find and use data on the condition of children and families in Minnesota. The guide describes how to…

A data-collection model is presented for the gathering of timely information on population demographic characteristics, as well as economic, educational, environmental, and social trends. First, the paper discusses the importance of anticipating internal and external changes and establishing priorities for resource allocation in the design of a…

Members of the faculty of George Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University were surveyed to discover their information needs, habits, and attitudes and to learn how the process of information gathering might influence the pace and direction of library policy. More than 60% of the 133 faculty members surveyed responded, and replies from…

A nationwide survey of two-year colleges with collective bargaining was conducted to determine who serves as chief negotiator for the colleges, the sources of information these individuals rely upon for their data, and the extent to which electronic data processing is used in the bargaining process. Of the 248 two-year colleges surveyed, 160…

In May 1982 a questionnaire eliciting information about federal document needs and the experiences of librarians in libraries that are not depositories was mailed to more than 150 libraries in the Western New York region. Replies were received from 57 libraries: approximately 20% from college libraries; 50% from public libraries; and 30% from…

This essay reviews current policy issues regarding statewide educational databases. It begins by defining the major characteristics of a database and raising two questions: (1) Is it really necessary to have a statewide educational database? (2) What is the primary rationale for creating one? The limitations of databases in formulating educational…

An issues-oriented framework for selecting data to support typical state-level planning analyses is presented. Attention is focused on questions concerning the planning issues, and the general data requirements required to support a given state's analytical questions and decision requirements. State-level planning issues in postsecondary education…

This document reports in three volumes the results of a series of surveys designed to: (1) determine what contribution intermediary information transfer organizations such as libraries and information analysis centers make to the value of information; (2) assess the value of two somewhat different software information analysis centers and the…

The methodology and results of a survey undertaken to develop data on current experiences and future needs of selected nonfederal users in obtaining and using federal information are reported in a letter to the chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP) of the U.S. Congress and in eight appendixes. Noting that information from the survey…

This report describes the Eurydice European information network on education systems. Started in 1980, Eurydice has grown to meet the needs of Europe's constantly evolving educational needs as it produces and dispenses reliable information that supports thinking and discussion about education within the European Community. Contents include…

In the wake of intense national interest in very young children, this volume presents an examination of the findings of the Commonwealth Survey of Parents with Young Children, as analyzed by scholars from diverse disciplines. What emerges from this analysis is a picture of the complex forces that influence families and child rearing in the…