Seven institutional research maxims based on research and theory about how people cognitively process information are discussed: more may not be better; augment humans with models; chunk data wisely; know decision-makers; heuristics are not always helpful; arrange tables by patterns; and accept negative evidence and new hypotheses. (Author/MLW)

The information needed for informed decision making and planning by institutions of higher education can be made available through the establishment of carefully constructed databases. This handbook outlines the characteristics of databases, the needs databases meet, the key factors around which they must be organized, the advantages they offer,…

The Interagency Conference on Child and Family Statistics was organized around seven groups that were asked to develop specific recommendations for improving the federal statistical database on children and families. This booklet is a report on the recommendations made at the conference. The first part of the report distills and synthesizes the…

Describes LOTUS 1-2-3, an advanced spreadsheet with database and text manipulation functions that can be used with microcomputers by librarians to provide customized calculation and data acquisition tools. Macro commands and the menu system are discussed, and an example is given of an invoice procedure. (Author/LRW)

Suggests structure based on two sets of principles for deriving meaning from data: Shannon's measure of entropy, which provides means of measuring amount of information in message; and Ranganathan's faceted classification scheme, which provides means of determining number of meaningful data. Syntax, meaning, and semantics of data are discussed.…

Advocates the use of machine readable codes to accomplish romanization and promote the exchange of bibliographic data. Proposals are presented for transliteration standards, design of machine readable conversion codes, and the establishment of databases. (RAA)

Describes a course in information processing which combines word processing (WP) and date processing (DP). The purpose of the course is to make students aware that WP and DP should not work in isolation but together for the common good of the organization. (JOW)

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)

Discusses the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), which was adopted as an international standard for data description, data modeling, and interchange in October 1986, and explores its evolution from its technical completion to its adoption by the international market. (four references) (LAE)

Representing the point of view of Philips Subsystems and Peripherals on Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) and Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I) issues, this position paper attempts to point out differences and similarities between the basic CD-ROM standard and the CD-I standard proposed for interactive use of data. (Author/MBR)

Discusses underlying assumptions and prerequisites for information development in Arab countries. Administrative and environmental impediments which hinder the optimum utilization of available resources and suggestions for improvements are outlined. A brief bibliography is provided. (Author/RAA)

These four papers were presented as background at a national symposium exploring the relationships among law, ethics, and technology as they relate to the individual's informational privacy. George B. Trubow's "The Development and Status of 'Informational Privacy' Law and Policy in the United States" discusses privacy as it relates to the…

The U.S. transformation from an industrial society to an information society is discussed. Economic and social implications of moving toward a technological information society are examined, and the role postsecondary education can play in intellectual capital formation for economic development is explored. (Author/MLW)

The need for information controls for college records management programs and the elements of program organization, planning, and management are discussed. Conditions at institutions that indicate a flaw in information control are identified, along with the benefits of a sound records management program. The management of an information and…

A national symposium was held October 4-7, 1981, to explore the relationships among law, ethics, and informational technology as they relate to the individual's informational privacy. The introduction to this report describes the conference format; discusses the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Freedom of Information Act; and offers definitions of…