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This paper aims to show the need for tourism researchers to identify clearly units of observation and measurement.

Using examples focusing on international tourism, discussion shows how terms commonly used in tourism research can be vague, ambiguous or invalid for formulating theory or analysis or for generating and presenting research results.

A tourism research best practice is needed regarding identifying populations and observation and measurement units so ambiguous or invalid use of terms like person, visits, visitor and travelers does not occur and specific terms, for example, person‐visit, person‐visit‐day and party‐visit are used to communicate clearly.

The paper clarifies the necessity of using terms like person‐visit, person‐visit days and nuclear‐family party visit to give research clear meaning and, in some cases, to avoid propagating questionable or invalid analysis.

AS part of the Ministry of Technology's investigations into how to make the fullest use of the computer as a design tool a working party was set up to survey information retrieval projects in the U.K. It was decided to extend the survey to include technical information retrieval work in the U.S.A. since it was thought that the additional information would be of value in providing knowledge of further techniques that could be used to solve the design information problem. Last year two members of the working party visited forty‐four selected centres of technical information retrieval work in the States to assess the present state of the art in information handling with particular reference to engineering design. Their report, Information Retrieval in the U.S.A., has now been published by the Ministry of Technology and it describes the information systems and the techniques used by each of the organisations visited, with particular reference to the way in which designers, engineers and scientists obtain information to support their tasks.

The article's aim is to provide an overview of articles in this issue.

The article gives summary information and perspectives on the articles that appear in the issue and provides information helping readers.

The article first discusses three articles showing what three journal editors see as topics and find acceptable as research methods. The other three articles appear because they have important implications that receive limited attention in the literature. These articles address innovative treatment of problems with information commonly collected on return (repurchase), vague units of count and ineffective data collection.

This research provides insights on what three journal editors research, and the priorities and innovative work on the need for better return data, for better terms for units (e.g. of analysis) and for more effective data collection.

The Chairman, MR L.W. Wilson, Director of Aslib, said that about three years ago a deputation of three librarians was sent to study libraries in the Soviet Union. The deputation had reported at an Aslib winter meeting. Arising from the visit of Professor A.I. Mikhailov some time ago, it had been decided to send a deputation to study scientific and technical information centres in Russia, and this took the form of a joint Aslib‐DSIR party. Dr Francis would give an introductory resume of their findings, after which it was hoped that the audience would ask questions and the other members of the party would join the discussion.

SAFI appoint Forbes as distributors. Forbes Plastics Ltd, pioneers in plastics fabrication and in the design and production of plastics tanks, have been specifying SAFI valves for some years so the recent appointment of Forbes as distributors for the full range of SAFI valve products is a logical extension of the relationship.

Business research often requires use of survey‐based techniques for data acquisition. In the past, researchers had to rely on manual methodologies for survey distribution, data entry, and analysis. These approaches were generally characterized by uncertain (often low) response rates; batch processing of collected data; protracted time periods spanning survey distribution to processed statistical results; and inability to make “mid‐course corrections”. These deficiencies are exacerbated for research on global competitiveness issues which requires international data gathering activities; however, they can be mitigated, if not completely eliminated, by the use of dynamic web‐based survey methods. This paper discusses the advantages of web‐based survey technologies with direct back‐end database interfaces and analytical frameworks, and presents illustrative results from development and use of such a tool.

In 1987 the Department of Health asked all UK District Health Authorities (DHAs) to review their provision for the terminally ill. This paper describes the deliberations of one district's Terminal Care Working Party culminating in the provision of a comprehensive National Health Service for the terminally ill. Especial emphasis is placed upon the factors in favour of siting these services on a district general hospital (DGH) site.

IN THE LIGHT of their subsequent close harmony, it is strange to recall that it was an impending royalty dispute between authors and publishers that provoked John Brophy's article, ‘A proposal to increase authors' incomes through the libraries’ in the summer 1951 issue of The author. His premise was simple: the book trade, supporting printers, binders, publishers, book‐sellers and librarians, was conspicuously failing to support more than a small minority of authors upon whom all the others depended.

THE GOVERNMENT sees absolutely no reason why it should try and persuade universities to up‐date their courses so that students are better‐equipped to earn a living in Britain's modern industrial society. This is made crystal clear by William van Straubenzee, the Junior Minister in charge of further education, in an exclusive interview.