Computerized Data Sources for Higher Education.

Today, with development of computerized data banks, there is an increased quantity of stored information that has relevance to problems far beyond the scope of the original study for which the data were developed. The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the major data available and their sources. It is hoped that by describing some of these sources, researchers and policymakers will be encouraged to actively seek out other sources and to develop arrangements to utilize these data for their own special needs. The format of the paper is to indicate specific data sources, to describe the contents of these data, and to identify a contact that may be used to find out more about the use of these data. Items such as ways in which data can be used and cost of the service are not discussed. The sources are divided by the following areas: general survey data; higher education survey data; student survey data; financing data; and nonstatistical computerized data. A 20-item bibliography is included. (Author/PG)