Attempts to familiarize the reader with the current extent of use of the legal assistant, to analyze the major sources of attorney resistance to the more extensive use of the legal assistant, and to make predictions of the extent to which legal assistants will be utilized within the next ten years. (Author/RK)

Divorce rates in North America have increased sharply during the last century. Though this fact may best be understood as the result of many factors, one of them is the law. This paper provides a brief history of Canadian divorce laws and their relationship to divorce rates. (Author)

Discusses four basic aspects of data reference work: 1) How files are created as related to the main sources for acquisition of data files; 2) What publications help to identify available data files; 3) What variables appear in which data files; 4) What information about the physical medium of file storage is needed to use the file on a computer.…

Further explores the difficulties pertaining to limitations in the use and interpretation of the Index of Dissimilarity demonstrates some of the systematic biases resulting from these inadequacies and provides a mathematical refinement which overcomes some of the major problems inherent in the use of this index. (Author/AM)

A reporting system relaces the requirement of a complete set of cross-correlated data from every institution for every foreign student under its control. The new system makes available data on the total population of nonimmigrant and immigrant foreign students by state, institution, country, academic levels and fields of study. (LBH)

This description and comparison of the major economic statistical database services discusses such factors as public and proprietary data, value-added services, user training and support, data specialties, and pricing. (CLB)

Even the application of such mainstays of the institutional researcher's statistical tool kit as the t test and ANOVA is not always as straightforward as it seems. The researcher must first check to see that the underlying methodological and statistical assumptions are being met. (Author)

Reviews a model by Joel Kleinman (proposed in this issue) for comparing State infant mortality rates to long-term trends. Asserts that even States with non-significant test results may have problems needing attention. Argues that the model may not be practically applied by State health officials. (KH)

The approach of J. D. Sneed is used to argue for a distinction between theoretical and nontheoretical (or empirical) entities. Attention is directed toward this approach as an important facility for looking at statistics and for constructing a framework for the correct use of statistical theory in information retrieval experiments. (MBR)

Approximations to the distribution of a common form of effect size are presented. Single sample tests, confidence interval formulation, tests of homogeneity, and pooling procedures are based on these approximations. Caveats are presented concerning statistical procedures as applied to sample effect sizes commonly used in meta-analysis. (Author)

Offers guidelines for statistical analysis to help determine the accuracy and appropriateness of statistics presented in a document. Provides example of commonly used techniques for manipulating statistics. (HTH)

Observations on the causes of user frustration at Sears Library, Case Western Reserve University were done in 1972 and 1974. A method of analysis was developed that allows for the calculation of four independent probabilities indicating measures of performance of acquisitions policy, circulation policy, library operations and users. (Author/AP)

This report provides summary information about public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for state fiscal year (FY) 2003. It covers service measures such as access to the Internet, number of users of electronic resources, number of Internet terminals used by the general public, reference transactions, public service hours,…

The devolution of increasing amounts of responsibility for the design and implementation of child and family policy has increased demand for measures of child well-being at lower levels of geography. Currently, however, it is unclear the extent to which commonly used measures of well-being can be estimated for children living in rural areas. To…

This brochure describes the purpose of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and where it fits in with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB). The brochure explains how NAEP disseminates information through publications and other information tools. A schedule of NAEP…