new technology in the human services

Author - SRM Documentation Centre, Erasmus University, Rotterdam.

Published by Scolari, (the software division of Sage Publications)

Available from: Scolari,
Sage Publications,
6 Bonhill Street,
London EC2A 4PU,
UK

CD with manual (1996 update reviewed).

Price £468 plus VAT for stand alone version, £703 plus VAT for network version. (PC only)

Database of Social Research Methodology

reviewed by Bryan Glastonbury

Description

This CD aims to provide a bibliography, abstract, terms search and thesaurus for social science research methodology, covering journal and book publications since 1970. It lists close on 40,000 authors from both sides of the Atlantic with references to their publications and publishers, as well as a substantial set of research terms. There are two ‘search engines’. One is bibliographic, allowing the full list of publications in the database to be narrowed down by specifying from a range of variables, including author, publisher and topic (called in the program ‘Term’). Alternatively it is possible to scroll and select from lists, though this can be a lengthy process. Once a publication is identified a screen displays a full reference and, usually, a sentence or two of outline content.

The other search is called the ‘Thesaurus screen’, and allows a research topic to be identified and both linked to closely related subject areas, and placed in a hierarchical framework to indicate the extent to which it is a large general topic area or a more specific and confined sub-area. This process is all about manipulating labels, and does not set out to provide definitions of terms or discussion of research methodology.

As a CD presentation, with a high price tag, the initial expectation is of something modern, easy-to-use and substantial. In fact the program is quite elderly, with, seemingly, only the content updated. It is a DOS application (3.0 or later), so although PCs with Windows 3.x can run it, Windows 95 machines presumably cannot unless DOS is available as an optional extra. Installation is easy enough, though this and any subsequent use requires the user to exit Windows and work from DOS. Running the program challenges the user’s memory of long-disused features of DOS programs, like Boolean operators.

The program feels ancient - no mouse; no icons or other graphics; limited use of colour; extensive use of left, right, up and down arrows for scrolling. Appearance is clear and plain, but dull. Functionality is fiddly for users now accustomed to mouse operations. Everything depends on the program’s utility.

Content

For review purposes I tried searching for four books which might expect to be found on the reading lists of people from the caring professions. One is a now elderly classic - Survey Methods in Social Investigation by Moser and Kalton. It is listed under Kalton, the second author, but not under Moser. Poor Sir Claus gets only one acknowledged reference in his own name, whereas Graham Kalton gets a bundle. Perhaps more seriously, the abstract simply describes it as a textbook, and makes no effort to provide even an outline of contents.

Strauss and Corbin’s Basics of Qualitative Research is in (coming from the same publishing house as the program it would be surprising if it wasn’t), with a brief abstract mentioning grounded theory. However, two other UK books are not there - Martin Herbert’s Planning a Research Project (1990) and Sally French’s Practical Research: a guide for therapists (1993). While the database is large, the conclusion perhaps has to be that it may have value for someone wanting an international search, but has less use for a UK student or other user wanting to focus on UK publications.

The list of terms leads to a similar mix of outcomes. The overall list is large, and includes many really obscure ones, but some basics, like ‘random sampling’, are not there. It leads one to wonder whether the bibliography and the list of terms has been assembled bit by bit as and when items came to notice, rather than through a planned and structured approach. It is a pity that the database is so substantial, but seemingly with so many holes in it.

On screen the search processes worked well enough, despite a few irritations (like having to type Kalton* to get to the list of publications - just typing Kalton leads to a message to say that no such word can be found). Seeking to use wider facilities was more troublesome, such as failing after several efforts to get the ‘Export’ command to send anything more than an empty file to disk. Possibly these problems arise because the review was done on a machine set up to run Windows 3.11, but there cannot be many purely DOS PCs left, can there?

Manual

The manual is short and to the point. For many uses it does the job, but it is not a ‘noddy guide’, so does leave the user to trial, error, success, and sadly some failure.

Overall would I buy it?

No. It is much too expensive. If it was on my computer would I use it? Possibly, but not very likely. Having to close down Windows applications to get into it, and losing all the benefits of multi-tasking would be too inconvenient. I would need a lot of persuading that Database of Social Research Methodology contains anything that could not be found as easily and probably more comprehensively on the Internet.


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Last updated 1 November 2000

The journal has now ceased publication (2003)