Discusses and reviews CD-ROM bundles--i.e., hardware, software and CD-ROM kits--including their features, specifications, drawbacks, and prices. Recommends buying through mail order for the best selection and price. The pros and cons of bundling as a marketing strategy are discussed and a list of vendors is provided. (EA)

This study evaluated effects on 77 institutionalized patients with mental retardation of changing from anticonvulsant Depakote to the similar drug, Depakene. Results showed no changes in seizure control, less lethargy on Depakene, but some increase in diarrhea and some changes in psychiatric symptoms. Substantial cost savings were achieved by the…

The research used to bolster former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett's contention that spending does not affect student achievement was a 1986 article by Eric Hanushek. A reanalysis of Hanushek's data contradicts Bennett's claim. Because of the attenuation problem, the spending-achievement correlation is even stronger than the…

Companies such as ARA Services provide lunch every day to more than 1 million students in over 280 school districts nationwide. An Illinois superintendent lists several reasons for school districts to consider "outsourcing" their food-service operations, including cost-saving opportunities, capacity for offering comprehensive services…

The impact of training in a tax specialty was measured at an accounting firm through a pretraining self-report, class observation, interviews, questionnaires, one-year monitoring of job performance, and calculation of return on investment. Results showed that training had a substantial positive financial impact. (SK)

Division of labor in hospitals has undergone task reunification, promoted as professional upgrading for nurses. However, this contradicts theories of professionalization and intensifies nurses' workload. At the same time, flattening of the nursing hierarchy increases their accountability. (Author/SK)

Desktop personal computers do not appear to have increased productivity, largely because employees are not being trained properly. An effective training plan includes high quality internal training staff, connection with business objectives, and focus on career development. (SK)

Compares the costs and effectiveness of different recruitment strategies when a large and racially representative sample is needed, but specific requirements limit eligibility. Discusses common methods of social research recruitment, and evaluates five nonprobability sampling strategies. Discusses sample development when stratification is…

Discusses the benefits and costs associated with participation in voluntary organizations. Suggests that understanding benefits and costs is important because they can be used to enhance performance in voluntary groups. Discusses implications of research and makes recommendations for further research. (Author/JOW)

Discusses the concept of outsourcing in libraries and suggests that it is done for the cosmetic appearance of fiscal economies. Highlights include the possibility of achieving better service quality, but at a higher cost; and the importance of keeping management informed about and aware of the value of library services. (LRW)

Discusses how trainers can ensure that the monetary value of training results exceeds the cost of training. Describes how training programs at LensCrafters, Sears, and Apple have increased their return on investment. (JOW)

Examines the use of life-cycle analyses in conjunction with a roofing database to manage educational facility roofing as assets. Roofing database development, quantifying and benchmarking roofing investigations, and using warranties as part of a roof asset-management program are discussed. Tips on how to start a roofing management program are…

Describes the concepts and methods of economic evaluation of health programs and services. Explains why occupational therapists should participate in outcomes research to demonstrate the value of therapy. (SK)

Attempts to explain the differences between education costs and expenditures and explains the differences in the "unit price" of teachers in different regions and differences over time in the level of inflation. Also examines indices that can be used to make judgments about the differences in costs and outlines a plan to derive an index for school…

Discusses the twin issues of the cost of online education and its potential profitability based on results from studies commissioned by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation of six universities' distance learning costs. Describes how administrators are recognizing that the costs are greater than expected. (EV)