A brief history of measurement systems beginning with the Egyptians and Babylonians is given, ending with a discussion of the metric system and its adoption by the United States. Tables of metric prefixes, metric units, and common metric conversions are included. (MN)

The noted consumer advocate states that teachers and parents must lead in the fight to defeat complacency in the public's attitudes toward education. Consumer advocacy has a place in the classroom and on the agendas of parent-teacher meetings. (Editor/RK)

The drug industry gains excessive profits from the often irresponsible drug decision-making by the doctor, the pharmacist, and the ultimate consumer. (RC)

Discussion of the trend of increasing journal prices includes an examination of possible reasons for such price increases and methods by which libraries may alleviate this trend through consumer awareness and competitive market techniques. (CLB)

This study examines the search for nutrition information from a broad group of sources, because prepurchase label reading appears to be only a small part of consumers' total search. The use of different information sources was analyzed using a cost-benefit model for search. (Author/CT)

Argues that the major studies supporting the Principle of Relative Constancy in consumption of mass communication products were statistically defective. Presents updated tests of data suggesting that the principle is actually of doubtful predictive value. (MS)

Explains that guiding students to identify connotations of names chosen for fragrances can have a two-fold purpose: first, students may become more discriminating consumers; second, they may experience the sheer joy of language play, which produces a genuine and continuing interest in the operation of language. (EL)

Reports on consumers' use and perception of information sources. The focus is on the use of information when making a purchase decision; what sources consumers have used for a variety of products, what sources they might use, and how helpful they feel nonbiased sources in particular would be. (CT)

Two interpretations are presented of the social dimensions of consumer education: the social/political interpretation and the personal/moral interpretation. Both contain a moral dimension involving questions of obligations and responsibilities to others. (MD)

Teaching buying skills was once based on evaluating products on a cost/quality and individual need comparison. Changes make this inappropriate today. Students must consider the social, economic, and political implications of their choices. (MD)

Providing a link between a variety of academic subjects, consumer education can be significant in understanding and influencing societal structures and decisions. It can lead to meaningful analysis of public policy and the processes of the political system and provide meaningful examples of citizenship. (MD)

College students who were enrolled in a personal health class were administered the Health Interest Inventory to ascertain their consumer health interests. Results are discussed. (Author/DF)

Information and resources are provided for teachers in developing a unit to help students become smarter consumers and understand the purposes of merchandise packaging. (DF)

Discusses the experiences of several consumer educators and shows how they sometimes are exposed to serious pressure by persons and organizations in the business community, pressure that represents a threat to academic freedom and integrity. (JOW)

In spite of legislation mandating consumer participation in health care delivery, providers of care call the tune. This article analyzes the reasons for consumers' inability to make fundamental changes in professional priorities and their cooptation when they actually take part in decision making. (Editor)