Professional development for institutional research: A descriptive profile of academic programs and an analysis of curriculum

A survey of 88 American higher education programs found that 9 of the programs offer an area of concentration in institutional research and 17 programs have an institutional-research core course. These programs are identified, and the content of the curriculum is described. Planning topics received the most emphasis in institutional research courses; topics related to facilities and research methodology received low emphasis scores. The theoretical or practitioner orientation of the core course is analyzed in the second section. In most of the courses, there was a positive correlation between the topics emphasized in the core course and the theoretical orientation of those topics, but the coefficient was significant in only a few cases. As expected, programs with an area of concentration tend to stress theoretical concepts in their core course, while programs without an institutional research concentration are more practitioner-oriented.     

Discovering democracy in Australia

Discovering Democracy is designed to give tomorrow’s Australian citizens the knowledge and skills they will need in order to know what values and institutions they can and must change and which should endure. They will know how their democratic system behaves. They will be confident in their ability to act within it as citizens. If it is successful, Australia will not need another public education campaign before Australians celebrate their next civic anniversary.     

An Empirical Study on the Nature of Trick Test Questions

This study attempted to better define trick questions and see if students could differentiate between trick and not–trick questions. Phase 1 elicited definitions of trick questions so as to identify essential characteristics. Seven components were found. Phase 2 obtained ratings to see which components of trick questions were considered to be most crucial. The intention of the item constructor and the fact that the questions had multiple correct answers received highest ratings from students. Phase 3 presented a collection of statistics items, some of which were labeled on an a priori basis as being trick or not–trick. The analysis indicated that examinees were able to statistically differentiate between trick and not–trick items, but the difference compared to chance was small. Not–trick items were more successfully sorted than trick items, and trick items that were classified as intentional were sorted about as well as nonintentional items. Evidence seems to suggest that the concept of trickiness is not as clear as some test construction textbook authors suggest.     

Evaluating interactive video: Software and hardware

Summary The evaluation and selection of interactive video hardware is a difficult process even for experts. There seems to be a multitude of models, options, peripherals, and prices. The task becomes even more perplexing because of rapid advances in the technology. What is new today may be obsolete tomorrow. Using the checklist should help make your job easier. It allows you to compare computers “apple for apple.” The recommendations listed are general suggestions. Different organizations may require most or less than what is recommended. Always plan for at least the minimum requirements of your software, even if those requirements are above our recommendations.     

Applying systems analysis to program failure in organizations

Certain systems analysis techniques can be applied to examinations of program failure in continuing education to locate weaknesses in planning and implementing stages. Since failures can be the result of human errors and environmental conditions (and frequently a combination of both), a systems design to determine causes must include techniques that can detect both individual and nonhuman factors. Questions to guide an analysis and various procedures are recommended. Unexamined failures may lead to tossing the baby out with the bathwater, when analysis, in fact, could be the initial step toward successful future implementation.     

Improvements in school climate associated with enhanced health and welfare services for students

School improvement initiatives are needed to better meet the needs of underprivileged students, to reduce underachievement and to break a continuing cycle of disadvantage. This article describes part of a school improvement initiative in New Zealand that provided additional funding for school nurse and social worker services in nine secondary schools with the most disadvantaged students in New Zealand. It describes the nature and delivery of services provided by the social workers in these schools. In addition, the article reports changes over time in staff and student views about school climate including a comparison with non-participating schools of similar socioeconomic status. The findings indicated that school climate is a useful intermediate measure of the effectiveness of school improvement initiatives. There were significant improvements in staff views about school climate over time, with staff views about school climate becoming more favourable on scales measuring Improvements in the Last 12 Months and Support for Ethnic Diversity compared to eight non-participating schools. Student views were more favourable on scales measuring Satisfaction with School, Support for Achievement and Support for Ethnic Diversity, compared to the non-participating schools.     

Information inputs to new product planning and development

For more and more firms product innovation is becoming the key to survival and future growth. Successful product innovation cannot be based only upon inspiration, fantasy and random ideas; in most firms a purposeful and systematic approach also is required. Information is a key concept in this context. As product innovation activities are very different from day-to-day activities, a special information system is required.Based on an in-depth study of a large firm, it appears that systematic innovation requires: (a) a sound business concept with future oriented strategies and policies; (b) a competent staff who master the necessary tools; (c) an efficient organization with an appropriate information system; (d) relevant methods for diversification studies and product planning; and (e) development of individual products based on systematical provision of information about user needs and proper specification of requirements.In small firms innovations are based more on the entrepreneurial approach. Such firms often demonstrate a very innovative attitude, but many of them are hampered by lack of skills in marketing and management. They also lack supporting services which can provide information about the environment.Considering the importance of small firms in economic development and social progress, they should be given support in their innovative attempts. This can be done by organizing innovation centers which arrange studies, develop courses, and give practical assistance to firms engaged in innovative work. Governments should develop policies and provide information stimulating both small and large firms to innovations that are more desirable from a social point of view.