Provides eight guidelines for the effective design of questionnaires to be used in the assessment of training needs. Highlights include cost effectiveness; the use of surveys; front-end analysis; and examples for each guideline. (LRW)

In order to obtain accurate and factual data, a survey instrument must be well constructed and a survey planned carefully and conducted under strict conditions. Of importance in planning a survey is a determination of previous and on-going research through an extensive literature review. In designing the survey, the researcher should aim at…

This manual is designed to aid the user in measuring consumer satisfaction with vocational rehabilitation services. The manual contains materials which were used by the West Virginia Research and Training Center in a followup study. Step-by-step guidelines are provided for assessing the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation services by…

The authors define action or "on the job" research as a type of applied research undertaken by practitioners in order to solve practical problems and improve operations in the educational or institutional setting. Advantages and disadvantages of using action research are presented and procedures for conducting it outlined. Two tables list…

Describes the elements required for a well-designed questionnaire, including appearance, question writing, organization, and cover letter. A checklist for effective questionnaire design is provided, as well as seven references. (BK)

Tips on constructing survey instruments and examples of alternative formats for questionnaire items are provided in this paper. The 18 tips cover such areas as instructions for respondents, wording of questionnaire items, grouping of items, handling of difficult or sensitive questions, fixed-response items, open-ended questions, and questionnaire…

Techniques and procedures for conducting graduate follow-up surveys are summarized. Initial considerations include: survey objectives, standardization of questions, differentiating follow-ups from alumni campaigns, those who need the information, those who have responsibility for the survey, and various populations to be surveyed. Specific issues…

In order to develop a comprehensive professional development plan, college employees were asked in 1976 to complete a needs assessment questionnaire, which served as the basis for discussion among divisional officers and a development coordinator. Development goals and objectives were compiled, followed by identification of potential programs.…

Intended for use by educators responsible for developing post-secondary learning centers, this manual emphasizes the design and administration of such centers rather than the various aspects of skill instruction. Its seven chapters discuss the concept of a learning center; the components of the model, including a supplemental course, recruitment…

This bulletin is designed for the researcher, the doctoral or master's candidate, or teacher interested in and/or conducting research. Content is presented in five chapters. Chapter 1 (The Research Problem) discusses what research is, selecting a topic, defining and stating a problem, and identifying the type of study. Chapter 2 (The Literature…

This manual contains information for conducting regular student surveys at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Questionnaires, designed for new, returning, and former student populations, are presented together with the methods by which the instruments should be administered. Guidelines for data analysis and report writing are also outlined. The…

Because of the pragmatic need of school districts to respond to questions posed by those interested in their efforts to implement career education and the equally practical need to further its definition, there exists a demand to assess the results of efforts to implement the concept. The main body of this monograph provides an operational…

The culmination of educational experiences in the outdoors is the resident outdoor education program. Involving teachers and pupils living and learning in the natural environment, the program emphasizes the development of human values and provides students with learning opportunities that focus on direct, real, and relevant experiences. Intended…

This volume is the third of five volumes describing a systematic approach for constructing task inventories, surveying the task performance of occupations, and analyzing survey data to determine the appropriate performance content for job training. (The approach, referred to as the task survey process, is designed to be of value to both…

Produced as part of the Targeted Outcomes Field Development Project, this handbook provides basic guidelines that can be used by community colleges for organizing and conducting community impact studies. An introductory chapter touches on the broad range of economic, educational, social, and technological impacts which community colleges have upon…