Although few people bring their psychological problems to mental health professionals, research in the area of 'natural' help is rudimentary. To investigate the process and effectiveness of natural professional groups in helping individuals experiencing marital disruption, 42 helpers (14 mental health professionals, 14 divorce lawyers, and 14…

Since all Agency for International Development (AID) projects require an evaluation component, AID's emphasis on assistance to agriculture and rural development projects ensures a continuing need for skilled and expert personnel to evaluate those projects. Intended for potential AID project evaluators, this guide uses experience gained from field…

This article reports findings from a two-year study of 17 change agents working in three New York City school improvement programs. Interview, observation, and ranking data from the change agents, their managers, and their school clients were analyzed, and a synthesis of findings resulted in a list of 18 key skills for educational change agents.…

A two-part report, sponsored by the Northwest Regional Exchange, focuses on the role of technical assistance in educational settings. This document, part I of the report, presents an overview of major research and literature findings, including the extant knowledge base and the state of the art in technical assistance. The introduction discusses…

This report summarizes the development, testing, and dissemination of an instructional improvement program called Achievement Directed Leadership (ADL) during the period of National Institute of Education (NIE) funding for ADL, from late 1977 to late 1985. A brief introductory chapter discusses the context and rationale for the work on ADL, whose…

This study undertook to discover why educational consultancy has not been more successful in implementing new educational programs and practices. It sought to identify differences in perceptions of superintendents, principals, consultants, and teachers with regard to teachers' need for consultant services and the factors, organizational and…

A two-part report, sponsored by the Northwest Regional Exchange, focuses on the role of technical assistance in educational settings. This document, part II of the report, examines selected change models for establishing technical assistance systems and implications for action. After a brief introduction, the following critical components of…

This updated resource guide for foreign language educators contains information on resources and services that can help enrich the classroom instruction. It is also designed for those who are concerned with the study or advancement of foreign languages and cultures. Information is provided on 149 foreign language service organizations and 68…

Program improvement activities can be classified into four categories based on the source of the impetus and the locus of the change agent: systematic, symbolic, opportunistic, and pragmatic. This paper (1) describes the various approaches to implementing Chapter 1 program improvement activities at the state and local district levels in 13 western…