Discusses the process of conducting a functional assessment of a problem behavior. Reviews current research on functional assessment methods, such as direct observation and indirect assessment, and covers applications of functional assessment. Applies functional assessment to binge eating and the antecedents and consequences of binge eating…

Contends that wise management human resources decisions may yield direct payroll savings in fewer workers for compatible production; controllable personnel turnover; greater flexibility to achieve new and emergency jobs; low waste, reject and accident programs; and low sick absences. Systematic follow-up must be integral part of effort to achieve…

Presents and discusses five issues affecting assessment with diverse populations: (1) "Quest for the golden label;" (2) "Three musketeers;" (3) "Horizontal research;" (4) "Bias is bias;" and (5) "I'm okay, you're not." Defines each issue and offers recommendations for resolution. Suggests that issues are not independent. (CRR)

Discusses possibilities for growth and vitality for small libraries based on numerous examples of success stories. Topics include individual initiative; cooperative efforts; community involvement; and elements of success, including assessment, planning, and knowledge of the profession and willingness to learn. (LRW)

Discusses digital reference services that provide subject expertise and information referral over the Internet to their users. Describes the history of digital reference, how digital reference services work, and explains a six-step process for building and maintaining digital reference services, including training, planning, and evaluating. (LRW)

In this article, the author outlines six recommendations that may guide the continued development and validation of measures of depression. These are (a) articulate and revise a formal theory of signs and symptoms; (b) differentiate complex theoretical goals from pragmatic evaluation needs; (c) invest heavily in new methods and analytic models;…

With the myriad challenges facing parents in recent years, formal parenting training programs have been developed to address parent needs. However, few studies have been conducted to assess the actual effects of participating in such programs. An attempt to develop a better understanding of how informal parental support networks and formal parent…

The field of ethnography is expected to provide reliable, accurate information regarding some aspect of an unfamiliar culture. However, this contribtuion is only useful if the results are presented along with a description and critical evaluation of the context in which the data was obtained. An example of failure to do this is found in an…

Procedures for generating evaluation questions in the Discrepancy Evaluation Model (DEM) are problematic as they are described in the literature. These procedures would lead to unmanageably or ineffectively long lists of questions. Any process of narrowing down the list must be drawn from other sources. One such source, developed for a specific…

For an evaluation design or "political strategy" to succeed in instituting a process of valuing and be appropriate for a particular setting, patterns of social relations and beliefs about the evaluation must be in agreement with those of the chosen evaluation design. This agreement must be in place either at the onset or occur during the…

The present study was designed to answer four questions: (1) do anonymity and purpose affect the leniency of self ratings in general, (2) do these factors interact, (3) do self ratings approximate supervisor ratings under certain conditions, and (4) is self-assessment a useful method of determining training needs? Self-ratings and supervisory…

Curriculum criticism, an alternative to traditional modes of educational inquiry, encourages researchers and evaluators to respect the unique and non-replicable qualities of school training. It assumes an analogy between the curriculum (as lived-in experience) and a work of art (which offers an immediate experience to viewers). The curriculum…

The term "evaluation" emerged in the 1930's to describe a broader and somewhat more pragmatic type of inquiry than had been associated with the word "measurement." Examples suggest two main lines of development: (1) An emphasis on the specification of objectives and their attainment, and (2) an emphasis on evaluation as a cooperative process…

There are already a great many bodies devoted wholly or partly to critical scrutiny of California higher education. But it is easy to prove that their combined effort provides only the most superficial evaluation, answering almost none of the basic questions that concern legislators, taxpayers, prospective students, parents and future employers.…