Explores the debate over the role of law in ensuring equal employment opportunity. The author argues that the overlapping and conflicting regulations, inconsistent results, and general confusion produced by the past encounters between the law and discriminatory employment practices should not be the model for future development of policy.…

Reviewing the many possible outcomes (intended and unintended) of vocational education programs, the author posits four tests for evaluation criteria: appropriateness, importance, feasibility, and usefulness. He discusses policy implications of the lack of consensus over the particular outcomes for which vocational education should be accountable.…

To better understand policy formation, evaluators should be aware of the perspectives from which legislators view evaluators. Illustrations of the impact of evaluation and research projects on policy are provided. (Available from: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 433 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104, single issue, $6.95.) (Author/GDC)

This analysis of an accreditation policy suggests that the policy process in general, and the implementation process in particular, tend to shape the policy outcomes through linkages between the various process phases and policy performance. (Author/IRT)

Briefly reviews some of the major theories about the conceptualization of the research policy interplay and identifies assumptions on which existing research is based. Introduces an original theory which assumes the concepts, ideas, and knowledge have no meaning independent of their use and the task of inquiry is to identify and criticize the…

Important past research on the state role, particularly that of state education agencies, in making and implementing educational policy is reviewed and assessed. Gaps in research and current issues are identified, and suggestions are offered for the future. (RL)

The Cooperative Institutional Research Program, the largest ongoing study of higher education in the United States, is discussed in terms of its conceptual framework, technical aspects of data collection, and uses of the data in research and national policymaking. (Author/MSE)

Reviews the environmental research of the California Institute of Technology. Caltech's environmental quality laboratory brings together scientists, engineers, and economists to tackle interdisciplinary problems that have implications for public policy. (Author/CO)

Until the 1950s, Canadian economists demonstrated little concern about the relationship between education and society's economic performance. In the 1960s, the neoclassical school became preoccupied with education's investment potential and, with the Keynsians, formed a consensus on greatly increased expenditures. In the 1970s, this judgment was…

States and the federal government have made efforts to encourage the implementation of career education. It appears to be one of the viable alternatives for bringing about educational reform that could result in the improvement of the quality of education. (CT)

Provides an example of guidelines for establishing an energy conservation program in schools. (Author/CM)

A national survey of student personnel administrators shows that they have policy-making authority for their areas of direct responsibility, that over 95 percent report directly to the institution's chief executive officer, and that student personnel services are diverse and include many traditional and nontraditional areas. (MSE)

Scholars address the principal issues necessary in deciding whether the United States should have an explicit family policy. Potential costs and what needs to be known before establishing a policy are discussed. Differing views and roles of the social scientist in implementing national policy conclude the symposium. (BEF)

Notes why the family is not considered in drug policy and programing and asserts that existing conditions demand conscious consideration of the family in efforts of federal drug agencies. Data show changing parameters of drug use-abuse. A research and prevention agenda that integrates the family is presented. (Author/BEF)

Presents an overview of policy-related statistics available in published form at little or no cost. The listed statistical publications can be borrowed from government documents libraries or purchased from the Government Printing Office. Potential value to policy researchers, ready accessibility, and some of the problems faced in using them are…