Growing realization of the economic, social, and environmental costs of conventional agriculture has led many U.S. farmers to embrace and become advocates for agricultural practices that limit the need for pesticides and chemical fertilizers, decrease soil erosion, and improve soil health. Some hope that sustainable agriculture can promote smaller…

A participatory action research (PAR) project used elements of the levels of use (LoU) of the innovation model to monitor the effects of on-the-job training in a telephone repair service. LoU interviews demonstrated validity, but the PAR method did not fulfill its emancipatory potential for change. Although participants critiqued the instruments…

Presents a strategic planning model originally developed for university research and illustrates its usefulness for academic libraries. Library development and fund-raising activities are used as examples to illustrate the various stages of strategic planning, including scanning the environment, designing the plan, acceptance, and adoption.…

Studied 123 Canadian families who had adopted 155 international adoptees during the 1970s, compared to 121 Canadian-born siblings in adoptive families, and adolescents and young adults in general population. Found gender differences and that international adoptees fare as well or better than adolescents and young adults in the general population…

Explores the extent of information technology (IT) adoption in Hong Kong, the perceived benefits of IT, and the problems encountered in adopting IT, based on a postal survey of 116 companies. Topics include government policy, previous studies, annual expenditures on IT, IT personnel, IT applications, software used, and problems. (Author/LRW)

A confederation of 10 coffee producers from southern Mexico seeks to improve the lives and incomes of participants by taking advantage of the lucrative organic coffee market. A farmer-to-farmer extension approach teaches over 200 participants to improve the quality and production of coffee in a manner that conserves natural resources and…

Discusses the following conditions which are necessary for effective systemic change in education: all stakeholders agree on a common vision of education; the existing system does not meet these expectations; a new system is designed; an implementation plan is developed; support for the plan is obtained; and pressure to proceed is applied. (MES)

A three-year project assessed the effectiveness of using a farm owned and operated by a local producer to implement, demonstrate, and transfer available technology. Responses from 104 of 340 participants indicated that on-farm demonstrations were effective. (JOW)

Discussion of positivist and interpretive approaches to research and postpositivism focuses on two studies that apply interpretive research in different ways: an exploratory study of user-developed computing applications conducted prior to a positivist study and a study of end-user searching behaviors conducted concurrently with a positivist…

Surveyed Child Welfare League of America member agencies about the impact of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) on child welfare services delivery. Agencies reported that AOD adversely affected the system by compounding problems, such as personnel shortages and shortages in available foster homes, which existed before AOD was identified as a major…

Used data on 496 children who had been in foster care before adoption to examine effects of child characteristics on odds that child would remain in long-term foster care and length of time for adoption agreement to be legalized. Age, history of abuse/neglect, ethnicity, and planned foster parent adoption program were major determinants of…

Presents the text of a lecture that looks at the declaratory, procedural, and monitoring features of a Children Act that would encompass lessons from the past to enhance the future of Scottish children. Also discusses four major questions at the heart of child-centered legislation. (TJQ)

Responds to previous article by Stolley and Hall (this issue) on presentation of adoption and abortion in undergraduate marriage and family textbooks. Contends that Stolley and Hall have constructed the issue as involving but two options (abortion and adoption). Asserts that abortion and adoption are but two of several related topics. Considers…

Reports on a survey of 125 Anglo-Saxon adoptees in Ontario, Canada, who had completed a reunion with their biological mothers and relatives 6 months to 4 years before the survey. Topics of discussion include adoptees' motivations to search for their mothers; the search and reunion activities; and the reactions of adoptees, biological mothers, and…

The field of applied behavior analysis is not overly technological but emphasizes technology in some areas, such as research procedures, and not others, such as adoption of intervention programs. Efforts are often focused on program implementation, with little attention to the preparation needed to implement or to leave an effective program in…