This study used a sampling of empirical data from public libraries to examine organizational characteristics (i.e., specialization, horizontal differentiation, vertical differentiation, professionalism, administrative intensity, organizational slack, and organizational size) and performance levels of three groups of organizations delineated…

Seven basic questions related to basic organizational questions and issues are presented together with a matrix for analyzing the responses in terms of comfort zone feelings and reactions based on past experiences. It is suggested that the matrix entries can be used to begin a dialog among organizational partners concerning their openness to…

Data on adoption of 43 user-developed computing applications in 3 large corporations were analyzed to develop an empirically grounded model of the adoption process for intellectual technologies. A five-stage model consisting of Resource Acquisition, Application Development, Adoption/Renewal, Routinization/Enhancement, and External Adoption was…

Describes computer-assisted reporting and the growing use of online databases for investigative reporting. The use of government databases, online services, and local records is discussed; creation of in-house databases is considered; software requirements are examined, including database management software; and organizational considerations are…

Conducted content analysis of 27 undergraduate marriage and family textbooks published from 1988 to 1993 to examine presentation of abortion and adoption in those texts. Abortion received greater coverage and was formally recognized at macro level as pregnancy resolution option and social issue. Adoption was addressed at micro level as option for…

Responds to previous article by Stolley and Hall (this issue) on presentation of abortion and adoption in undergraduate marriage and family textbooks. Agrees that adoption should be covered more comprehensively, but disagrees with Stolley and Hall on issue of parity of coverage of adoption and abortion as choices in resolution of unwanted…

Authors of original article on presentation of adoption and abortion in undergraduate marriage and family textbooks respond to commentaries on that article by Nock and by Strong and DeVault (all this issue). Respond by addressing aspects of authors' research regarding social construction approach in general and specific meaning of abortion and…

When choosing permanent homes for foster children, attachment, permanence, and kinship can be used as criteria for selection. Each of these criteria represents an established value in child welfare theory. Reports a case study of three siblings entering adoption in which the three criteria formed the basis for a placement recommendation that…

Reports the results of the first large-scale public opinion survey on adoption. Found that 52% of adults surveyed favored open adoption, the arrangement in which an adopted child and the adoptive parents keep in contact with the adopted child's biological parents. (MDM)

Reviews literature on attachment process between adopted children and their mothers. Explains empirical research in relation to Bowlby's theoretical formulation of attachment, basic thesis of which is that infants develop affectional bonds at specific ages of their development and, therefore, child's age at time of adoption is important…

Provides historical background on federal policies related to Indian family rights and child welfare and on legislation leading up to the Indian Child Welfare Act. Interprets the act with regard to jurisdiction and standards for child placement for foster care and adoption. Discusses federal funding of the act and monitoring of state compliance.…

Reviews a number of strategic plans and the goals and objectives normally assigned to distance education, and distinguishes the terms used in strategic thinking about distance education. Examines assumptions about adopting distance delivery of education and training by looking at distance education not as an objective, but as a strategy.…

Notes that adoptive families have formal (agency-related) and informal (indigenous) resources to draw on for assistance with a variety of issues. Describes Hope for the Children (HFTC) program located in Rantoul, Illinois, a created community designed to foster permanence of special-needs adoptions, in which adoptive families live alongside agency…

The rate of adoption of nutrient management by farmers in Wisconsin watersheds was compared for a program using diffuse communication strategies and one using one-to-one information transfer. Information transfer increased adoption of specific practices and decreased application of excessive nitrogen and phosphorus. (SK)

Provides a profile of the use of action learning at the University of Brighton (United Kingdom), identifies reasons for the spread of action learning in a variety of subject disciplines, and discusses implications for the adoption of other innovations in learning and teaching in higher education. (LRW)