The functions, products, and financial support of urban school district research departments in Texas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe and then to compare the present functions, products, and financial support of urban school district research departments in Texas. This purpose was accomplished by: (1) reviewing pertinent literature and then developing a propositional inventory of national trends relating to the functions, products, and financial support of public school district research departments; (2) describing the functions, products, and financial support of seven urban school district research departments in Texas (Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio Independent School Districts) and then developing a propositional inventory of state trends; and (3) comparing the propositional inventory of state trends and the descriptive case studies of urban school district research departments in Texas with the propositional inventory of national trends developed in the review of the literature. Data collection consisted of taped interviews with (1) directors of research, (2) financial officers, and (3) central district administrators. To facilitate this process, several instruments were used to conduct each research department's interview. These include a research director interview guide, a financial official interview guide, a central administrator interview guide, a set of function selection cards, a departmental appropriations form, and a general background information form. The data collected from each interview was then used to describe in case study format a particular research department's functions, products, and financial support for the 1973-74 school year.