Examines the effects of bookstores on public libraries. Topics discussed include the role of libraries as organizers of information; bookstores as competition; reading trends; library collections; libraries' emphasis on user services, including interlibrary loans; partnership programs; marketing strategies; user needs; hours of operation; and…

Examines current experience and trends in the roles, functions, and activities of today's library directors, based on a survey of directors of large libraries or library systems. A shift in roles, functions, and activities from predominantly internal affairs to an increasing emphasis on external concerns, including technological, economic, and…

Earlier metaphors of schools as factories and children as raw products have had powerful effects on opinions about schools. However, an analysis of education spending and test scores, international and domestic, shows that U.S. schools offer good value. Comparison of public schools in nonpoverty areas with private schools reveals little…

Reports on a study that monitored and corrected the writing of bilingual Fransaskois students and immersion graduates in the same class. The study's objectives were to determine whether francophones and anglophones made similar or different mistakes and whether the two groups could be taught together without prejudice. Both groups made similar…

This study investigated the relative importance of 9 instructional factors (amount learned, exam fairness, enthusiasm, individual rapport, organization, assignments, group interaction, breadth of materials, course difficulty) in 229 college students' global evaluations of faculty effectiveness in 3 disciplines (accounting, education, geology).…

A study compared the knowledge, confidence, and attitudes regarding medical ethics of 55 house officers and 57 full-time faculty members of the Georgetown University (District of Columbia) Department of Medicine. Results indicated low knowledge levels in both groups, higher faculty confidence, and somewhat more faculty sentiment for mandatory…

Determined the role gender plays in influencing the prevalence and patterns of sexual risk taking. Responses from 245 undergraduate students show gender differences in risk-taking patterns. For females, potentially risky behavior in the partner domain was negatively related to risky behavior in the sexual practice domain, whereas for males, the…

Describes the development of new teaching strategies in an anatomy and physiology laboratory at Burlington County College (New Jersey) based on laser disc technology, computers with multimedia capabilities, and appropriate software. Lab activities are described and results of a survey of former students are reported, including a comparison of lab…

Compared apology exchanges in Italy and the United States by having 10 Italian university students view American situation comedy television programs and rewrite particular conflict and apology exchanges in an Italian context. The status and role of the programs' participants affected the Italian students' choice of apology strategies more so than…

Describes a study of journalism students at Pennsylvania State University that investigated how they reacted to the use of computers in their classes, especially the electronic evaluation of written work. Topics addressed include newswriting instruction, including the use of computer labs; handwritten comments versus electronic comments; and…

A study of 4,000 college faculty, using data from a national survey, investigated on- and off-campus sources of stress. Results indicated that while different faculty groups (male/female, tenured/nontenured, white/nonwhite) perceived varying stress levels, they also perceived different types of stress. (Author/MSE)

Discussion of the ethical use of electronic mail highlights a study at Gallaudet University (District of Columbia) that investigated student and faculty attitudes concerning privacy, equal access to information, and social conduct on the system. Results for deaf and hearing individuals are compared, and the use of telecommunications to help…

Studies the extent to which nine significant persons in the lives of Anglo American and Mexican American academically successful university seniors influence their pursuit of university studies. The differences between the two groups of the nine persons were attributed to the cultural and socioeconomic differences of the two ethnic populations.…

Reports of five Canadian universities concerning gender discrimination in salaries are reviewed, compared, and evaluated. All found some discrimination, but approaches taken varied considerably. Analysis suggests the focus on single equation models is problematic, and further information gathering is needed. (Author/MSE)

Compares a multimedia adult literacy instructional course, Reading to Educate and Develop Yourself (READY), to traditional classroom instruction by studying effects of replacing conventional learning tools with computer-assisted instruction (CD-ROMs and audio software). Results reveal that READY surpassed traditional instruction for virtually…