This paper discusses teacher education, institutional growth and the economy of information. It compares the sector of teacher education with global markets, described by Thomas Friedman in his book "The world is flat", as emerging and "flattening" in light of rapid technological and communication advances. The institutional…

Although educational researchers are beginning to recognize the influence of organizational culture on organizational productivity, the term "organizational culture" has been defined from a variety of perspectives. This paper presents findings of a case study that investigated the cultural characteristics of a junior high school recognized for its…

It is a widely held perception in this country that private schools are superior to public schools. This digest examines school size and school culture as they relate to the high quality of education in private schools. The average private school is about half the size of the average public school. Reflecting Tonnies' (Ferdinand Tonnies, 1887)…

This journal chronicles a sample of the papers and presentations delivered during previous annual meetings of the Maryland Association for Institutional Research on the fifth anniversary of that association. A first paper, one from the first annual meeting in 1987 titled "Environmental Scanning: Assessing Local Business Training Needs"…

A descriptive study was done of a microcomputer-based modeling approach to retention analysis used at the University of Hartford (Connecticut) which relied on an information system which integrates multi-year admissions, financial aid, and academic data with surveys of college student adjustment, involvement, and reasons for leaving. Analyses were…

This paper represents a phenomenological approach to studying the lived experiences of nine African American graduate students. By outlining a step-by-step process, the paper demonstrates how in-depth interviews with narrators can help to reveal the essential structure of the phenomenon of prejudice. Following the process of thematic reduction,…

This report summarizes a 3-year review of reports of child abuse and neglect in New York State's mental hygiene facilities. The study determined that greater efforts are required to ensure protection of those children who were "repeat" alleged victims and who, as a group, were involved in 400 of the 850 reports to the State Central…

This case study examined changes which have taken place at two independent colleges founded by Catholic religious orders (referred to respectively as "Josephite College" and "Jesuit College") and the effects of those changes on the Catholic character and identity of each college. The study involved interviews with faculty members and…

This book examines the full range of experience of the nation's baccalaureate candidates. Working around the premise that education is not something that professors do but rather something students participate in, this book gives succinct accounts of the full range of goals of undergraduate education, from the acquisition of certain proficiencies…

This paper presents a holistic conceptualization of the school as an autonomous system. Two major scientific paradigms, reductionism and holism, are outlined and their impacts on educational administration are discussed. Findings of a study that investigated the participation of the governing bodies of independent schools in the schools'…

To be successful, the instructional design must take the learning environment into consideration. But how is this environment to be analyzed? This book provides readers with the methodology to conduct an environmental analysis and use its findings to promote successful instruction. The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 includes two chapters…

Intended for use by individuals or groups in initiating strategic thinking and planning, this document provides national data on 21 dimensions of the environmental scanning process grouped into nine categories and presents a model of strategic planning. Following a brief introduction describing the importance of environmental factors in planning,…

This report revises and updates environmental trends that affect present and future planning and assessment at Georgia State University (GSU). The purpose of this environmental analysis is to determine the major trends in the environment, the implications of these trends for higher education and for the institution, and significant opportunities…

Research indicates that a positive school climate is an important factor in school effectiveness. This paper reviews the major determinants of school climate and also reports the findings of a survey of 246 teachers and 76 principals in rural public schools in central Tennessee concerning three school climate factors: motivation and morale;…

While an increased awareness of the dehumanizing and organizationally self-defeating qualities of residential institutions has fostered a movement toward community-based care, little research has been done to measure the "institutionality" of the alternate settings. As a part of a larger study aimed at describing alternative settings for…