Purpose: This paper aims to provides a brief review of the dashboard literature, an account of the development of performance dashboards for field data collection at Westat, and more specifically for the first cycle of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). A brief concluding section offers suggestions for…

With its October 2014 day-long conference on competency-based education and Higher Education Innovation Challenge (HEIC), the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) is creating a space in which New England states and institutions can wrestle with the critical issues driven by abundant information. The HEIC lists multiple areas where the…

In the last 2 decades, educational systems have developed accountability policies in which schools maintain autonomy for their pedagogical, instructional, and organizational practices (internal control). At the same time, they are held accountable to public authorities (external control) for the quality of their education. It is not clear whether…

Methods of organizing and checking administrative databanks to increase their usefulness for research and evaluation are discussed. Examples are drawn from the studies using the Manitoba Health Services Commission databank. The various uses of both manual and computerized checks are explained. (Author/JKS)

Holds that database producers and online system vendors have failed to maintain sufficient quality control over their products, and that online searchers should voice their complaints about file documentation errors, indexing inconsistencies, and incorrect data entries. (FM)

The ability of operating departments of an institution to mechanically gather, summarize, and report "local" data is discussed. Problems are outlined that arise when departments have the ability to produce data and do so with rigorous quality control by the institution's central information management organization. (MLW)

Reports the findings of a study which examined the question of submitting error reports to OCLC for the purpose of database quality control, and describes ENHANCE, a program that would provide online error correction capability for member libraries. Eight references are cited. (FM)

Describes a progression of tests that were developed for assessing online database accuracy. Results of the tests are discussed and compared; examples of search queries on DIALOG are given; and the possibility of standardizing such tests are considered. (Contains 11 references.) (LRW)

Discussion of the quality of databases and database producers' responsibilities highlights a survey on current practices related to quality assurance that was completed by National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services (NFAIS) members. A checklist developed by the Southern California Online Users' Group (SCOUG) to help evaluate…

Reports responses of 15 ERIC Clearinghouses to three questions concerning the internal mechanics of evaluating unsolicited manuscripts for "Resources in Education": acceptance rate (average rate was cited as 50%); academic credentials of those who make final evaluation; and selection criteria. Eight sources are given. (EJS)

Discussion of computer-aided indexing activity focuses on examples from projects at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Standardization and quality in providing subject access to databases are considered; and computer-aided lexicography, including thesaurus construction, access vocabulary, definitions preparation,…

Five librarians considered authorities on quality cataloging in the OCLC Online Union Catalog were interviewed to obtain their views on the current level of quality control in the OCLC database, the responsibilities of OCLC and individual libraries in improving the quality of records, and the consequences of quality control problems. (CLB)

Observations on impact of WILSONLINE (online access to H. W. Wilson's indexes) on the industry, library services, and end users are drawn from interviews with reference librarians, H. W. Wilson administrative staff, and monitors of database industry. Issues addressed include quality, thoroughness, ease of use, and marketing (demand, pricing,…

Proposes that a search service concentrate on a quality control program for online database search analysts which consists of selection, monitoring during the training process, and certification that will begin prior to training with the preselection of search analysis. (CWM)

Describes a statistical study of three databases, conducted at Iowa State University, on holding links between citation databases and the online catalog. Provides insights into the construction and quality control of citation databases and online catalogs, and identifies a new issue of continued maintenance of ISBNs and ISSNs for catalogers.…