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)
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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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