Discusses the problems, benefits, and future of cooperative library reference services in five separate papers: (1) keynote address; (2) interlibrary reference communication; (3) quality control; (4) computerized cooperative reference; and (5) national reference service. (JD)

From an economic and technologic perspective, self-publishing through electronic media is now a viable and attractive alternative to traditional publisher-mediated channels. For academicians developing a multi-authored hypermedia publication, a common vision must be created by defining pedagogical objectives; roles of all involved; authoring…

Quality Function Deployment, a set of concepts and tools used in manufacturing engineering to link consumer needs with product design, can also improve academic advising systems and processes. The technique promotes structured, logical examination of students' advising needs and their relationship to advising system design, processes, methods,…

A survey of 250 American Marketing Association members investigated which international business research topics were seen as having high utility or importance. It also identified five latent factors (global market expansion; international marketing management; management issues in an international context; quality, values, and expectations;…

The ideal evaluation instrument would help educators consider the merits of a Holocaust curriculum in regard to historical accuracy, comprehensive presentation of major historical aspects, pedagogical soundness, and developmental appropriateness. Unfortunately, the 1995 guide issued by the Association of Holocaust Organizations is conceptually…

Common concerns in quality assurance (QA) in higher education and convergence in power balances within educational systems worldwide are resulting in adoption of similar methods for QA. Quality issues addressed include definition of quality, international comparability of education, academic standards, institutional autonomy, external review,…

An ideal process is outlined for test item development and the study of item responses to ensure that tests are sound. Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to assess the item-level validity evidence for high-stakes examinations. A checklist for assessment is provided. (SLD)

Reviews the framework developed by the Expert Panel on Educational Technology, considers the tradeoffs of its broad-based approach, and presents an alternative model for assessing educational technology programs. Discusses what can be expected from educational technology programs; how educational change occurs; barriers to effective technology…

A methodology for calculating the return on training investment is described. The method covers attitudes, knowledge, and behavior of participants as well as effectiveness in organizational improvement. Output, time savings, quality improvements, and "soft data" on effectiveness are set against costs. (TJH)

This bibliography is divided into 2 parts: literatures citations and abstracts/annotations of State Reports. Part I contains 7 sections: General, Foreign Medical Graduates, Biomedical Scientists, Physician Performance, Minorities and Women, Graduate Medical Education, and Other Bibliographies. Part 2 contains 71 reports of surveys of physician…

Two applications of statistical process control to the process of education are described. Discussed are the use of prompt feedback to teachers and prompt feedback to students. A sample feedback form is provided. (CW)

Discussed are principles of quality control which may be applied to the process of education and to teaching. Suggestions for improving teaching and an example of this application are provided. (CW)

This study was designed to determine whether opportunities exist to reduce patient morbidity and health care costs by utilizing health care services before diseases progress to advanced stages. Hospital admissions were categorized based on the timing of the initial hospitalizations of patients admitted with any of 14 diagnoses. (Author/MLW)

Educational facility standards serve as a quality control, and facility standards for building area and size affect financing and are deterrents to abuse. Direct and expert involvement of planning professionals is necessary in applying standards to educational facility projects. (MLF)

A college-level classroom assessment model that provides an alternative for assessing student competencies and can be adapted readily to different academic settings is presented. The procedures described help faculty assess the impact of their teaching on student mastery of course competencies while applying continuous quality improvement…