This study first reviews research on factors that influence the ways individuals make decisions, such as the size of an organization and its structure, the nature of the power coalitions within the organization, and certain traits such as risk-taking, self-concept, and gender. The study interviewed 33 administrators at varying levels within six…

This annual publication seeks to inform interested readers about important concerns of currently confronting the United States. An introduction provides: a brief discussion of individuals in the Reagan Administration; a list of the leadership positions and committees in the 100th Congress--the reader must fill in the person for each position; a…

The validity and reliability of the Institutional Performance Survey (IPS) as an institutional self-study instrument were assessed, with a focus on four types of validity (content, face, construct, and concurrent) and three types of reliability (test-retest, internal consistency, and rater reliability). It was found that IPS appears to reasonably…

A multiple-method study of junior high school teachers' beliefs and classroom behavior focused on teachers' perceptions of teaching tasks and processes, on how their beliefs and behavior are shaped, and on constraints by outside influences. These influences, which make up the context of teaching, include organizational and community influences on…

Three historically significant religions of Japan and the corresponding cultural norms are examined as they affect consumer behaviors and, consequently, marketing in that country. The religions are Buddhism, Shintoism, and Confucianism. The fundamental doctrines, attitudes, and social patterns associated with each religion are outlined and their…

A hands-on study for executives, researchers, and students who want to better understand how organizational culture can support or impede decision making strategies in a complex changing collegiate environment is provided. Leadership strategies and institutional problems are described. Seven different collegiate cultures are explored via case…

Proceedings of a 1980 Brown University conference on faculty retirement are presented. Papers and authors are as follows: "A Review of Current Legal Status and National Policy Issues" (Laura C. Ford); "Mandatory Retirement Age Legislation for Tenured Faculty: The Policy Issues and Their Context" (W. Lee Hansen);…

Public and private initiatives designed to enhance U.S. competitiveness were suggested to the President of the United States by the Business-Higher Education Forum, based on a 1-year research and study effort. The Forum's findings include: the U.S. economy is lagging behind its own past performance and the gains of other nations; economic vitality…

The number of competing daily newspapers in American cities has dwindled until only about 50 cities boast two papers. Of the newspapers in those cities, 23 now maintain separate editorial operations but have joint printing, advertising, and circulation departments. The concept of joint operation is 50 years old, dating from the Depression years…

One focus of a year-long study of West German apprenticeship was the conditions that are most supportive of learning on the job. The study design incorporated two distinctions that the Germans consider critical: manual versus white-collar occupations and size of training firm. Two occupations were studied--auto mechanic and…

Collaboration between university and public school educators is a strategy which has recently gained support as a part of the teacher education process and as a viable area in which to conduct research. This paper defines the concept of the culture of educational settings and asserts that school-university collaboration occurs in the intersection…

Two arguments on the impact of sex and setting in part-time faculty are offered: (1) that men and women come to part-time teaching by somewhat different routes, but once they arrive in a specific setting and encounter similar work and work conditions, the impact of sex is muted; and (2) that there are two important aspects related to work settings…

Recent research on organizational turnover has concentrated on testing models of the turnover decision process, in particular, Mobley's (1977) model of employee turnover. The present research was based on Mobley's theoretical work and the subsequent empirical tests of his model. Employees (N=266) at a large computer company completed a…

Discussed are the following topics: (1) the greenhouse problem, including the processes involved and some possible resulting scenarios; (2) ozone, the "umbrella" protecting the earth from lethal concentrations of ultraviolet rays and the problem of decreasing ozone levels; (3) what could happen as the earth gets warmer (including…

Poor land and environmental pressures are degrading many of the world's dryland areas. Despite international efforts to halt desertification, the problem is worsening; one-third of the earth's land area, and as many as 850 million of the world's poorest people, are potentially at risk. Presented are some of the key facts and possible solutions to…