This study examines the organizational structures of schools and school systems using six complementary but distinct perspectives--societal, intentional, structural, analytical, portrait, and narrative--in order to ascertain the appropriateness of structural revision in relation to changes in Canadian society. Following an examination of the…

The relationship between the structure of decision-making in a college or university and the consensus on values within the university was studied, based on the field of organization theory where cultures and values are helpful in understanding the operations of an organization. Based on a larger study of the academic profession, a qualitative…

A model and supportive materials are presented for design and implementation of a program for involving citizens in decision-making concerning significant environmental issues. Chapter topics include: why citizen involvement? (potential benefits of the process); theoretical basis for citizen involvement (three fundamental perspectives underlying…

Policy Analysis and Simulation System (PASS) is an interactive microcomputer model that can be used by educational administrators, policy-makers, and planners to simulate and forecast, under conditions of environmental uncertainty, the impact of strategic policies on the projected trends and goals of educational performance. PASS generates…

Reductions in resources and increases in external demands place schools under pressure that can be relieved to some extent by organizational changes. When resources are sufficient, these changes may take the form of technical rationality--that is, decisions concerning policy and practices are made on the basis of neutral, measurable data rather…

Under the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (P. L. 96-272), Congress outlined a case review system intended to assure that child welfare agencies deal directly with various aspects of child placement. The second of four volumes, this document presents case study descriptions of the hearings within the context of the case review…

A technique for studying how parents think, make decisions, and solve childrearing problems, Computer-Presented Social Interactions (CPSI), is described. Two studies involving CPSI are presented. The first study concerns a common parental cognitive task: causal analysis of an undesired behavior. The task was to diagnose the cause of non-contingent…

Beginning in fall 1981, a course in communication and information theory was offered at the School of Natural Resources (University of Michigan). Throughout the course, emphasis was placed on comparing communication strategies and effectiveness as well as providing models for interdisciplinary research and data management. Case study materials and…

This paper argues that cautious and participatory desegregation efforts yield less desirable outcomes than either sweeping, authoritative desegregation policies or no imposed effort at all. The author proceeds to support these claims by identifying 10 goals of school desegregation and examining the rules and consequences of incremental and…

A questionnaire survey of elementary teachers and principals investigated their attitudes toward parent involvement in schools and sought to find whether barriers to parent involvemnt were related to school policies and procedures, teacher or principal attitudes, lack of resources, or lack of knowledge or skills. Of the random sample of 2,000…

The communication of research findings among collegiate institutional researchers is considered in relation to the contribution of qualitative language in general, and catastrophe theory in particular. The qualitative language of catastrophe theory may help reduce the arbitrariness of description, through identification of qualitative features…

The relationships of perceived participation in decision-making, communication variables, and employment and employee job satisfaction were examined. A survey was conducted with 103 classified employees (clerks, secretaries, and the lowest level supervisors) in three administrative units at a comprehensive, eastern university. Employees were asked…

A fictional account of 1 school year in the life of a university president is presented to illustrate the conflicts within the university. A meeting with state officials regarding the university's 1979-1980 budget request is described, including the president's premeeting anticipation and his thoughts about the dynamics of interactions. Diverse…

An analysis of college programs that extends beyond cost comparisons and that may improve academic decision-making is described. The framework is based on the program cost elements presented by Gonyea and Harper (1978). A hypothetical college of urban affairs is used to illustrate the program cost elements. The program includes four constants:…

This report outlines the activities and impact of the Massachusetts Dissemination Project, a capacity-building program funded from 1976 to 1982 to further the dissemination of information on educational resources in Massachusetts. Major project outcomes are listed, including the production of two serials entitled Resources for Schools (26 issues)…