Selected papers from the Conference for the Evaluation of Instructional Materials treat the area of evaluation by describing Richard Dershimer's three-part evaluative schema, the Educational Products Information Exchange approach to evaluating instructional materials, the evaluation procedures in Montgomery county (Maryland), the Consumers Union…

A large number of correlational models for cross-tabular analysis are available for utilization by social scientists for data description. Criteria for selection (such as levels of measurement and proportional reduction in error) do not lead to conclusive model choice. Moreover, such criteria may be irrelevant. More pertinent criteria are…

This study was undertaken to develop a model early warning system which could anticipate job openings generated in local communities by large Federal procurement contracts. Among the major findings from the cases studied: (1) projections of job openings were possible in all contracts considered, by the use of estimating techniques which are…

Whatever the innovation, the adoption-rejection decision must be related to precise evaluation data; and in cases where positive benefits are the clear result of an innovative program, the implementation of an effective diffusion program can magnify and multiply the benefits for a larger population of students. The Peterborough Project…

A series of workshops were offered for vocational education administrators and researchers to train them in institutional research methods in a systems planning context. The basic purpose of the project was to provide an opportunity for vocational educators to become familiar with (1) research methodology; (2) to train vocational educators to…

The purpose of the study was to ascertain what evaluation practices were being utilized for vocational programs and also to apply a cost-effectiveness model to four program areas offered in Kansas area vocational-technical (VT) schools. Cost and benefit data for the study were obtained from the Kansas State Department of Education, Vocational…

A model of social studies textbook analysis and evaluation is developed in this paper and is applied to the analysis and evaluation of the content on Hawaii in selected elementary school social studies textbooks. Innovative methods of content analysis and evaluation of textbook presentations were developed and applied to the subject of Hawaii to…

A plan for educational assessment is presented which focuses upon three interdependent aspects of a management control system: input, process, and output. Input encompasses the provision, allocation, and assignment of resources, both human and material; process concerns the application and utilization of these resources in ways that will produce…

In this book, the author attempts to aid those persons involved in finding ways to make school systems more efficient and productive through control systems. He begins by stating the problem and describing the services provided by Research and Evaluation (R&E) units. He discusses the various monitoring and reporting activities, work-flow…

Descriptions of models of the initial acquisition stages of reading development and of methods for teaching beginning reading are provided in this conference report which not only describes individual models and strategies, but also draws together and summarizes current thinking in this area. The models range from the behavioristic works of…

Three types of instruction were used in the Ohio Module Project: traditional classes, programmed learning centers, and home instruction. Four major objectives of the project are: (1) to determine the kind of training program necessary to prepare paraprofessionals to operate an instructional program utilizing programmed materials, (2) to compare…

Any general systems approach has five basic elements, which serve as the tasks for the researcher using systems analysis. The five are (1) the objectives, (2) the alternatives, (3) the costs, (4) the model (or models), and (5) the decision rule. With these five steps, the researcher should be able to specify the objectives, select alternatives,…

An orientation to management information systems (MIS) is offered which presents information about MIS in the context of public education and suggests some considerations that should be taken into account in designing and operating such systems. MIS is defined as a set of operating procedures that act as a control system to automatically provide…

The Texarkana model of performance contracting consists of five major elements: (1) turnkeying of cost-effective new technology as a basic program goal, (2) use of a performance contract for instruction, (3) use of a management support contractor, (4) selection of the learning system contractor by formal competition, and (5) use of independent…

The author examines how a simulation model relates to speech communication as an effective tool for high school and basic college speech courses. Pre-structured, teacher-structured, and spontaneous simulation games are discussed. The author concludes that regardless of which type of simulation strategy is employed, the post game discussion and…