Introduction: Evidence-based practice is a process through which evidence in its various forms is sourced, appraised and applied in order to solve a problem, inform decision making, or improve practice. The purpose of this paper is to share findings from a qualitative research study that sought to identify evidence used by Australian special…

In the accountability era, educators are pressed to use evidence-based practice. In this comparative case study, we examine the learning opportunities afforded by teachers' data use conversations. Using situated discourse analysis, we compare two middle school mathematics teacher workgroups interpreting data from the same district assessment.…

The Investigation into Information Requirements of the Social Sciences (INFROSS) was initiated in 1968 because it was feared that in the absence of knowledge about information requirements of the social sciences, solutions adopted in science, based on the findings of science user studies, would be applied to the social sciences. It is now…

The reactions of users to each of the INSPEC services are being sought as part of the normal development of these services and through a series of user studies. It was the aim of this study to assess the respective roles of individual profile selective dissemination of information (SDI), standard profile SDI, current-awareness publications and…

A five-page questionnaire was mailed to 709 persons on the subscriber list of the "Newspaper Research Journal" to determine if a problem existed between academic journalism researchers and practitioner consumers of the research. The questionnaire was constructed to measure the usefulness of various sources of information to the…

Investigated assumption that those most concerned and knowledgeable about the environment (as well as those most active) tend to use specialized media rather than mass media for environmental information. Results indicate that persons environmentally active do not necessarily use mass media differently from those not environmentally active, except…

Proceedings of a study group that considered the utility of the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) finance data for institutional and higher educational sector comparisons are presented, as are issue papers and descriptive information. The study group of representatives from higher education institutions and organizations outlined…

Examines influences on the use of electronic information resources, including the Internet. Highlights include information quality and accessibility; the Technology Assessment Model; the Fitness for Purpose model; the Theory of Planned Behavior; and a study in Australia that compared the ability of these models to explain electronic information…

Designed to evaluate the usefulness of the BIOSIS PREVIEWS database when searching the psychiatric literature, this study compared the effectiveness of this online database with the effectiveness of two other computerized databases, MEDLINE and PsycINFO (Psychological Abstracts), which psychiatric researchers and clinicians usually rely on when…

The study was undertaken to identify the kinds of information that the Oklahoma public wants about vocational education. Two data collection methodologies were used, the Delphi Technique and task force procedure. Participants were 240 volunteers from a statewide master list of 653 persons selected as representative. After four meetings the task…

Describes results of a field study where 74 people were interviewed about their experience with using either an electronic or a printed version of a brief project description. The popular belief that electronic information systems are more efficient was not confirmed. Methodological problems of comparative media studies are discussed. (Author/LRW))

This paper reports the results emanating from the Dissemination, Utilization, and Assessment (DUA) project. Designed to shed light on factors that might facilitate or impede more effective and extensive use of audiovisual materials in higher education, this 3-year project focused on the use of the audiovisual materials produced by Annenberg/CPB.…

The quality and utility of NCEC information analysis products, including ERIC clearinghouse products, PREP reports, and EMC bibliographies, are evaluated. The chapters in this volume of the evaluation study are as follows: I. Introduction, which describes the NCEC information analysis products, issues to be addressed, study approach, and report…

Research studied the activities of four special units set up by four Federal agencies to handle the diffusion and utilization of their respective research products. Comparative functional profiles of each unit were first developed and revised to constitute a consensus self-portrait. Next, data on the research utilization networks of two of the…

In compliance with a state mandate to maintain accountability for matriculation funding, Moorpark College (MC) conducted a survey of new students to assess their satisfaction with the college's student services. A random stratified sample of 400 first-time students were contacted by mail and telephone during May and June 1990, and 295 usable…