Federally sponsored educational research and development projects are not achieving their full potential; much of their material is of little or no practical utility, and much that is of value is not well disseminated or is not readily available. The National Institute of Education might improve the quality of research and development by: (1)…

The focus of this paper is the Educational Resources Information Center's (ERIC's) products and information dissemination. Its purpose is to collect and review existing studies and analyze information: (1) about the effectiveness and appropriateness of the array of products ERIC now produces in meeting user demands and needs; (2) about the styles,…

This is a study of information transfer in the R and D operations of large industrial corporations. Its basis is a body of survey data collected from 2000 engineers and scientists in 13 establishments of four corporations and from 1200 members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The data describe instances in which…

Examines the information-seeking behavior of academics in South Africa, presenting a survey conducted at the University of Zululand. Presents results in 9 tables in terms of: rank and position; information resources used; how knowledge of existence of information sources is gained; generation of professional ideas; why academics seek information;…

Data from a large number of recent research studies are brought to bear on the problem of providing for the technical information needs of research and development projects. The importance of proper support by the technical staff is shown, and it is argued that the best way to couple the project team to information sources outside the organization…

This is a second report of a study of the use of scientific and technical information in industrial and nonprofit settings. It focuses on mapping the information-communication behavior of the engineering division of the Southwest Research Institute. Data include questionnaires, library records, travel records, telephone records, and contractual…

Describes educational research, development programs, and information services offered by Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) in West Virginia. Describes AEL's use of ERIC, and examples of linking educational services for Appalachian schools. Describes West Virginia's Project TEACH, an elementary computer education project, and other…

About 80% of the 282 employees at a university-based educational research and development center completed questionnaires based on J.E. Grunig's theory of communication behavior in a study to define communication types, discover communication patterns, and make recommendations for improving the center's communication program. Grunig's theory…

Demands for better diffusion of social studies instructional materials became widespread in the 1960s and early 1970s. These demands were largely in response to teachers' curiosity about the vast quantities of new social studies materials; to curriculum developers' desire that their materials be adapted; and to the public insistence on the best…