Development of a Technical Data File On the Design and Use of Instructional Systems.

A technical data file concerned with the technology of Instructional System Development suitable for a variety of users was developed. The file was prepared in a way amenable to later computerized storage and retrieval. General information sources and indexes of highly probable relevance were reviewed with key words and relevant specialty journals covering the period 1950 to 1973 were searched. Abstracts of articles providing opinion, new methodology, evaluative summary and literature reviews were of a summarizing descriptive nature. Abstracts of articles reporting sampling studies, correlational analysis, and experimental data were prepared more comprehensively so that they might often be used in lieu of the article. A common format was used with a bibliographic/indexing information page and an evaluation checklist being included. The principal results of the effort are as follows: 1) a paper file of 2,693 abstracts, 2) a card file of titles, 3) a coordinate index, 4) a comprehensive key work index and bibliography, and 5) MT/ST tapes of 1,950 of the abstracts. Incidental to the development, comprehensive guidelines for abstracting this type of literature and a compendium of author-noted research-and-development needs were prepared. (Author)