These readings explore the historical, theoretical, methodological, and institutional aspects of assessment. Many of these publications represent early efforts to probe the concept and methodologies of the assessment function.

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that focuses on analyzing the "materials problems related to sudden discontinuities in the long-range supply/demand of a given material, resulting in complete or partial disruptions and abrupt price changes" (p. vii).

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) examining the human and financial costs to the healthcare system caused by research and development. It "discusses possibilities for and obstacles to assessing the social impacts of new medical technologies during the stages of research and development that precede their wiespread acceptance" (p. 3).

A study done by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) intended to "review food information systems in order to isolate and evaluate those significant to the development of food legislation and related congressional policymaking" (p. xi).

A review by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) of a previous report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The review closely examines the proposals in the five-year plan regarding national environmental goals.

A report prepared by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) of an analysis of the proposed national energy plan.

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment covering "the relationship between Government action and technological innovation in the civilian sector of the U.S. economy" (p. 3).

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) examining "a range of congressional options available for ensuring the integrity of the educational process for professional scientists and engineers is maintained" during the creation of the Department of Education (p. iii).

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that analyzes "consumers' perspectives on open-date labeling; benefits and costs; alternative systems and techniques; alternative criteria and scientific tests to establish open dates; enforcement mechanisms and liability related to open-date labeling; and options available to Congress" (p. 1).

This report represents a significant cooperative effort on the part of Canadian and U.S. Government agencies, railroads, and labor groups in creating mutual understanding of railroad safety policy and programs.

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that analyzes the "feasibility, implications, and usefulness of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis in health care decisionmaking" (p. iii).

A study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that looks at the cost effectiveness and policies of neonatal intensive care.

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "examines the relationships between patent-term extension and pharmaceutical innovation," paying special attention to social implications of patent-term extension (p. iii).

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that assesses the potential of the solar power satellite (SPS) as a source of energy, looking at four alternative SPS systems and at their "technical characteristics, long-term energy supply potential, international and military implications, environmental impacts, and institutional effects" (p. iii).

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "examines the potential financial and managerial barriers to carrying out-at some future date-a large-scale program to create a new high-speed, long-range commercial air transport employing new technology" (p. iii).

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment that "describes the major processes degrading land productivity, assesses whether productivity is sustaining using current agricultural technologies, reviews a range of new technologies with potentials to maintain productivity and profitability simultaneously, and presents a series of options for congressional consideration" (p. iii).

A study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that looks at how "advances in technology and increased competition in the communications marketplace will significantly affect USPS finances, service levels, and labor force requirements over the next two decades" (p. xi).

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that examines the January 1982 plan by the National Airspace System (NAS), which "attempts to integrate the various improvements into a single long-range program that addresses major shortcomings and reduces costs of the current system" (p. 3).

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) of "the Nation's ability to use models more efficiently and effectively analyze and solve our water resource problems" (p. iii).

A case study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that examines "the evidence on variations in lengths of hospital stay and their relation to health outcomes" (p. 3).

A background paper by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that brings together "the literature and current views about the actual and potential role of RCTS (randomized clinical trials) in decisionmaking about medical technologies" (Preface).

A technical memorandum by the Office of Technical Assessment (OTA) that reviews the quality and relevance of activities at GML (Gorgas Memorial Laboratory), based on Gorgas' publishing record, an OTA-commissioned survey of GML's scientific reputation, a critical review of recent articles and current manuscripts, a comparison of GML's areas of effort with health problems in tropical America and with scientific opportunity, and a review of past scientific evaluations of GML (p. iii).

An assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "surveys the contribution of the forest products industry to the U.S. economy, the ability of the industry and the U.S. forest resource to satisfy expected domestic demands for wood, the competitiveness of U.S. Forest products on world markets, and the role of technology in stretching the U.S. forest resource and providing products that satisfy domestic needs as well as international markets" (p. iii).

A study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "examines present conditions and future needs of the Nation's airports, with emphasis on possible solutions to problems of operational capacity and air travel delay" (p. iii).