Data on which to base interinstitutional comparisons can be obtained directly from institutions or from a variety of secondary and tertiary sources such as national surveys, statistical publications, newsletters, directories, and organizations. Lists of these sources are included. (MSE)

Describes a data acquisition system developed for an undergraduate engineering students' instructional laboratory at Georgia Tech. Special emphasis is placed on the design of an A/D Converter Board used to measure the viscosity and temperature of motor oil. The Simons' BASIC Program Listing for the Commodore 64 microcomputer is appended. (LRW)

Suggests that a collaborative relationship between a clinical supervisor and a reading teacher can improve the teacher's effectiveness through a preobservation conference and identification of problems, classroom observation, and a post-observation conference. (JC)

Although successful dropout assistance programs depend on effective implementation, casework, and long-term followup activities, the literature only occasionally addresses these practices. This article reviews data collection problems, major risk factors, reforms aimed at actual and potential dropouts, and alternative school programs. Second…

Suggests activities which use newspapers as a source of data from which students design, read, and use tables, charts, and graphs. The activities, in reproducible worksheet format, provide teachers with both short- and long-term projects. (PK)

One aspect of children's daily lives--the school itself--is often ignored as a source of readily available data for student activities. School-based research activities that require students to collect, organize, and interpret data are described. For example, students conduct research on how students travel to and from school?

How museums have changed to accommodate young children is described, the importance of pre-visit preparations is discussed, and strategies and activities to enhance the concepts gained from museum experiences are presented. (RM)

Folktales as reflections of a culture provide many kinds of information for social studies that are unmatched in the elementary school. However, teachers must be alert to the potential of folktales to present unintended or erroneous information. (RM)

Hungarian teachers were surveyed about the teaching methods they use, as well as the process of deciding what type of classroom technique to use. Over 3,000 teachers completed a questionnaire, while 100 were also interviewed. Results are discussed. Comments concerning research methodology are included. (GDC)

The procedures used in a successful mailed evaluation questionnaire effort are described, and guidance is given to those who are unfamiliar with the methodology. (Author)

A between method triangulation strategy was used to evaluate a process for long-range program planning. One study team conducted interviews and the other used a mail questionnaire. The resulting problems in coordination between teams are discussed. (Author/GDC)

This article presents a discussion of field utilization of staff development activities in the context of three separate training programs. Specifically, classroom implementation of knowledge and skills gained by participants in their training sessions was assessed via the Levels of Use (LoU) interview system. (Author/LMO)

Existing evaluation data sources for educational software need to be supplemented by local judgments since evaluation processes differ depending on the ultimate user and purpose for which the information is gathered. School districts should select evaluation models and modify them for local need based on utility, feasibility, propriety and…

Reports on: (1) the formulation of a holistic, systems-based theory of cultural transmission; (2) a field guide developed for gathering the precise data needed to test the theory; and (3) a pilot study, involving the collection and analysis of data about six- to 12-year-old Americans, Israelis, and Mexicans, to test both guide and theory. (CMG)

The value of using more than one data collection procedure to investigate an educational question is illustrated. A semantic differential instrument provided an index of the direction and intensity of teachers' attitudes, but an unstructured interview provided a more detailed portrayal of their opinions. (RM)