A program of 9-month postdoctoral institutional research internships was sponsored by the Institutional Research Council of Eleven (IRCE)--the Big Ten and the University of Chicago. It was established to provide on-the-job experience in well-established institutional research units in selected IRCE institutions. Five carefully screened trainees…

This study was conducted by Macomb County Community College to determine the reasons that their students withdrew from classes. Questionnaires were sent to 3,568 students who had dropped a total of 6,081 courses. The 1,434 responding students (40.19%) answered questions about the 2,190 courses they had dropped, and gave their reasons for doing so.…

This document describes a modified Delphi technique for use in establishing research needs and priorities at the institutional level. Six steps are essential to the technique: identification of needs, collection of rankings of the relative importance of the identified needs by institutional administrators, calculation of the rank of identified…

Described is the Empire State Office of Research and Evaluation multiple perspective strategy for evaluation of academic programs. The uncommon Studio Arts Program in New York City is used as a model. This program is politically as well as educationally important to the institution, which introduces internal and external pressures on the research.…

The authors define action or "on the job" research as a type of applied research undertaken by practitioners in order to solve practical problems and improve operations in the educational or institutional setting. Advantages and disadvantages of using action research are presented and procedures for conducting it outlined. Two tables list…

A report that describes some of the characteristics of Harford Community College students is summarized. The 12 variables investigated in order to develop a description of the student population and pinpoint trends were: (1) part-time students--the proportion of part-time students was found to be rising dramatically; (2) Age--the average age of…

Differences between 20 transfer program persisters (p) and 23 non-persisters (np) on five measures were investigated to identify elements that might characterize persistence. The subjects consisted of freshmen enrolled in the transfer program at Crowder College (Missouri) during the fall of 1967. A comparison of each group's composite School and…

Persisting and non-persisting students at Anoka-Ramsey State Junior College (Minnesota) were compared using non-intellective measures. The purpose of this comparison was to differentiate between the two groups through questionnaire responses indicating general characteristics, reasons for attending the junior college, appraisal of services offered…

Data on the cognitive and emotional functioning of selected students were gathered to develop a research description of them from which the potential academic and vocational levels of attainment of similar students could be estimated. The experimental group was made up of 57 males and females of various racial backgrounds, who scored at or below…

This document incorporates all the papers presented at the fifth annual forum of the Association for Institutional Research. Whereas the previous forum reviewed the conceptual framework used in institutional research, this forum reviewed research design and methodology. Seven clinics carried out this theme with such topics as educational planning,…

This study elevated the effectiveness of the Dean's Scholars Programs (DSP) at Wilbur Wright Campus, Chicago City College (Illinois). The program--initiated in September 1966--provided selected freshman and sophomore students with opportunities to prepare for professional study through accelerated courses. The program planners hoped that the…

Communication effectiveness and its dependence on factors of leadership behavior, leader background, organizational structure, and organizational age in Illinois Public Junior Colleges are the concerns of this study. Data were obtained through questionnaires sent to full-time faculty members and institutional administrators in the Illinois 2-year…

A new alternative to awarding "F" grades for course failure was investigated by the psychology department of Los Angeles City College, and initial results are reported in this study. Basically, a "W" grade was given to failing Psychology 1 students in place of "F" during the fall 1969 semester. The "W" could…

Students entering Harrisburg Area Community College (H.A.C.C.), Pennsylvania, who are identified as being inadequately prepared for regular coursework are assigned to appropriate developmental courses, to prepare them for subsequent entry into the regular career or transfer curricula. A recent analysis of the program outlines such factors as…

Santa Barbara City College recently established a tutorial center to serve the needs of educationally disadvantaged students, particularly those with minority backgrounds. To investigate the impact ot these services, the performance and persistence of 75 students enrolled in a preparatory English course were studied. Each section was taught by the…