In the course of one's research, the expediency of meeting contractual and other externally imposed deadlines too often seems to take priority over what may be more significant research findings in the longer run. Such is the case with this volume which, despite our best intentions, has been put aside time and again since 1971 in favor of what seemed to be more urgent matters. Despite this delay, to our knowledge the principal research results and documentation presented here have not been superseded by other publications. The background of this endeavor may be of some historical interest, especially to those who agree that research is not a straightforward, mechanistic process whose outcome or even direction is known in ad vance. In the process of this brief recounting, we would like to express our gratitude to those individuals and organizations who facilitated and supported our efforts. We were introduced to the Beale, Kendall and Mann algorithm, the source of all our efforts, quite by chance. Professor Britton Harris suggested to me in April 1967 that I might like to attend a CEIR half-day seminar on optimal regression being given by Professor M. G. Kendall in Washington. D. C. I agreed that the topic seemed interesting and went along. Had it not been for Harris' suggestion and financial support, this work almost certainly would have never begun.

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1.1 Orientation and Objective.- 1.2 Organization.- 2. Optimal Regression Analysis.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Description of the Algorithm.- 2.3 Strategies in Using the Program.- 2.4 Related Multiple Regression Programs.- 2.5 Case Studies of Optimal vs. Stepwise Regression.- 2.6 Suggestions for a Strategy for Using the Program.- 2.7 Order and Detailed Description of Input Card Types.- 2.8 Several Analyses on Different Sets of Data or the Same Data.- 2.9 Output of the Program.- 2.10 Machine Dependent Program Features and Suggestions for Modification.- 2.11 Description of Program by Subroutine.- 2.12 Definitions of the Square of the Multiple Correlation Coefficient.- 3. Interdependence Analysis.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Interdependence Analysis Algorithm.- 3.3 Example of Interdependence Analysis.- 3.4 Suggestions for a Strategy for Using the Program.- 3.5 Order and Detailed Description of Input Card Types.- 3.6 Output of the Program.- 3.7 Machine Dependent Program Features and Suggestions for Modification.- 3.8 Description of the Program by Subroutine.- 4. Optimal Network Analysis.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Optimal Network Algorithm.- 4.3 Examples of Optimal Network Analysis.- 4.4 Suggestions for a Strategy for Using the Program.- 4.5 Order and Detailed Description of Input Card Types.- 4.6 Output of the Program.- 4.7 Machine Dependent Features and Suggestions for Modification.- 4.8 Description of the Program by Subroutine.