Presents Checkland's soft systems methodology, discusses it in terms of the systems approach, and illustrates how it was used to relate evidence of user survey to practical problems of library management. Difficulties in using methodology are described and implications for library management and information science research are presented. (8…

Used a general systems model to evaluate a self-help support group for medical students (N=26). Results showed most medical students sought out support groups to fulfill social affiliation needs and gain better self-understanding. Members shared many leadership functions and generally found the groups meaningful. (JAC)

This book presents a theoretical road map for teachers, professors, or administrators who seek guidance from the educational change literature. The introduction presents an overview of assumptions, early traditions of change research, other reviews of change research, and practical application of education change theory. Eleven chapters discuss:…

Focuses on learner verification and revision (LVR), a systems approach to the evaluation of instructional materials in which materials are tested with students. Using this method to adapt internationally available materials to local needs is discussed. A flow chart of the LVR adaptation process and 31 references are included. (JJD)

Two cases illustrate an approach that considers characteristics and needs of each situation separately. One case involved the establishment of a new baccalaureate program; the second involved the remodeling of a master's program, undertaken from outside the program, by committee. (MSE)

Identifies the lack of an effective comprehensive management information system (MIS) as one major impediment to effective library administration and outlines a proposal for the development of a system based on a total systems approach, which would be made available to subscriber libraries through a network system. Twenty-three references are…

Describes the initial evaluation phase of family therapy, which clarifies the circular interaction maintaining the symptom, the family structure, and its relationship to the therapist. Suggests using first sessions to collect data and organize it meaningfully. Presents phenomenological and mythical models of family functioning as guides for…

Presents a model for assessing children's psychosocial difficulties based on developments in family, crisis, and systems theories, as well as on ideas in environmental and social psychology. Major components for assessment are identified: life crises, immediate environmental influences, broader environmental influences, individual characteristics,…

Presents general systems models (ballistic system, guided system, and adaptive system) and an evaluation matrix to help in examining training evaluation alternatives and in deciding what evaluation is appropriate. Includes some guidelines for conducting evaluation studies using four designs (control group, reversal, multiple baseline, and…

The Neurological Key method emphasizes a systematic deductive procedure for reaching clinical decisions about learning disabled children. The rationale for the diagnostic and remedial decisions reached at every node of the Key is explained and is supported by data from clinical and experimental studies in psychology and neurology. (Author/SJL)

Proposes a seven-dimension systemic model for counselors to help teachers conceptualize learning and behavior problems in the classroom. The model stresses the importance of the teacher defining the presenting problem and the outcome goals in terms of clearly observable behavior. This systems approach addresses behaviors that are resistant to more…

Proposes a dynamical systems approach to parsing in which syntactic hypotheses are associated with attractors in a metric space. The experiments discussed documented various contingent frequency effects that cut across traditional linguistic grains, each of which was predicted by the dynamical systems model. (47 references) (Author/CK)

Examines the impact of societal changes on higher education, notes that technology is a resource allocation issue, and evaluates the potential for educational technology to make necessary improvements. Summarizes the needs analysis of a university preparing to adopt new technology, and develops an integrated needs model. (PEN)

Recommends an approach to computer-assisted language learning and development activities that addresses the total instructional system, including non-technological components. Eight procedural steps, based on an input-process-output model, are described for developing, refining, and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of CALL teaching…

The counseling process is presented both conceptually and visually as a collection of activities occurring simultaneously in varying degrees. Argues that this concurrent model better represents actual counselor-client interactions than traditional discrete, sequential-stage representations because it is more inclusive and integrated, yet flexible.…