A series of studies have been initiated which explore methods of information systems evaluation and their application to operational situations. Included are means of expressing benefits in terms of tangible measures of effectiveness. Functional and system objectives are considered in determining meaningful performance parameters which effect the…

The base'', means of access, indexing, storage, input costs and retrieval are discussed as factors that must be considered in comparing information systems. (2 references) (Author/KE)

For purposes of categorizing those things that perhaps determine the extent to which evaluation findings will be utilized, four sets of factors are considered in this paper: (1) the decision maker/decision process, (2) the program and social context, (3) the nature of the evaluator , and (4) the evaluation process/evaluation report. (Author/RC)

Pollution of natural resources such as information is the result of inefficient use of those resources and misplacement of those resources after use. Information workers must make judgements or assign priorities to information to ensure its use to serve the cause of a humane rationality. (1 reference) (Author)

Information needs and research systems of scientists in various disciplines. (LS)

A logical approach to analyzing societal trends and to presenting the results of the analysis to policymakers is described. This is the trend impact matrix. (Author/WM)

To obtain user evaluations of the information analysis products (IAPs) produced by the Educational Resources Information Center Clearinghouse on Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation (ERIC/TM), subjects were randomly drawn from a 1976 list of the clearinghouse's IAP orders. The sample was stratified by the title requested and the following…

The role of the professional evaluator within a school district is essentially to provide data for use in informed decision making. In School District 4J in Eugene, Oregon, this role involves performing tasks in three basic categories: (1) maintaining and interpreting ongoing databases, (2) finding and analyzing information to answer specific…

Presented is an analysis of nine agreements focused on three areas of common concern to dissemination specialists involved in the 1977 National Dissemination Forum: resources, linkage, research, evaluation and quality control. FORUM participants represented the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC of the National Institute of Education…

This paper deals with systems concepts, particularly those related to management information systems (MIS) as exemplified by the Center for the Study of Evaluation (CSE) Formative Evaluation Kit. The concept of MIS is in numerous ways more flexible than might be imagined from a cursory reading of the business-management literature. An MIS does not…

This general exposition of information consolidation and primer on information consolidation processes defines information consolidation; discusses the concept's evolution; summarizes its objectives, audiences, value, and benefits; discusses information consolidation processes including selection, evaluation, analysis, synthesis, restructuring,…

The basic objective of this study was to examine, apparently for the first time in communications research, the impact on professional communication of an annual review publication. A sample of users and non-users of Volume 1 of the Annual Review of Information Science and Technology was identified, and questionnaires were sent to nearly 3,000 of…

A study was conducted of the International Information Service in Physics, Electrotechnology, Computers, and Control (INSPEC) selective dissemination of information (SDI) user profile generation. Five degrees of user involvement in the generation of profiles were investigated ranging from having the user provide only a statement of subject…

One of a series of sixteen knowledge transformation papers, this paper deals with the nature and extent of use of evaluative data by administrators in vocational education. First, the following conditions which govern the use of the data are described: availability, reliability, credibility, utility, and consistency. Since the legitimacy of most…

A conference on Increasing the Use of Promising Practices Information by Local Educational Agencies was held at the National Institute of Education (NIE) July 14-16, 1974. The recommendations developed at the conference focus on identified needs for: a clear definition of the term promising practices; a leadership role by NIE; a plan of action to…