bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Software Reviews : THE OTHER SIDE: A Global Conflict Resolution Game
Authors: Soroos Marvin S.
Published: August 2008

The game is designed to create an environment that simulates situations of conflict and cooperation between two countries, represented by groups of three to four players. Much of the activity during a 90-minute run entails exploring and drilling for three types of fuels. To prosper, each country must obtain rare fuel that is available only from the other country. Limited communication between the countries can take place through a computer "hotline." Conflictual behavior takes the form of launching bombs that destroy possessions of the other side. Nations whose economies are not successfully managed fall prey to their C.A.D. (Computer Assisted Defense) system, which temporarily generates decisions that tend to heighten conflict with the other side. The game can be played in either of two modes. In the cooperative mode, the objective is to build a bridge between the two countries that will benefit both in as few years as possible. In the competitive mode, the side that adds the last brick to the bridge is declared the winner.
Software Reviews : Mindsight, 1.0Publisher: Execucom Systems Corporation, P.O. Box 9758, Austin, TX 78766 (telephone: 800-531-5038) Year of Publication: 1985 Materials: 2 diskettes, 1 three-ring notebook manual, 1 eight-page introductory pamphlet Price: $195 Machine Specificity: Apple Macintosh System Requirements: 512K with either 2 floppy disk drives or 1 floppy disk drive and 1 hard disk Effectiveness: Excellent User-Friendliness: Excellent Documentation: Excellent
Authors: Holden George W.
Published: August 2008

MINDSIGHT, developed for the Macintosh, is a decision support software system designed to be used for business planning and analysis. Through creating economic models, the program projects the effect of changes in the model's variables. Thus, it aids the decision-making process by demonstrating outcomes of different choices. The software is powerful, flexible, easy to use, and clearly documented. It is model software in the new field of decision support.
Software Reviews : VP-Planner, Version 1.0
Authors: Brent Edward
Published: August 2008

Trade magazines were speculating about this program for months as Adam Osborne's new corporation was rumored to have a low-cost LOTUS 1-2-3 equivalent program. VP-PLANNER does a good job of creating a LOTUS 1-2-3 lookalike offered at a reasonable price with additional capabilities. For social scientists seeking a versatile spreadsheet with some database capabilities at a reduced price, this is a good choice.
Book Reviews : CAI Sourcebook
Authors: Burke Robert L.
Published: August 2008

This book attempts to assist educational users in producing computer-assisted instructional (CAI) packages. It is also intended as a textbook for education courses that teach CAI courseware development. The book is intended for those with little or no knowledge of instructional technology or computers, but is too sophisticated for the novice.
Book Reviews : Children and Microcomputers
Authors: Chen Milton , Paisley William
Published: August 2008

This book draws together ideas and activities about research concerning the use of microcomputers in schools and the corresponding interest in measuring the extent of this use, and its nature, purpose, and results. A historical framework and a look at the future are also provided.
Book Reviews : Managing New Office Technology: An Organizational Strategy
Authors: Pava Calvin
Published: August 2008

This ambitious book is intended to make an impact on management philosophy and practice regarding the so-called "office revolution." It is, however, filled with esoteric jargon, which clouds the real contribution that it does make. That contribution is recognition that the social organization of the office place—the rules and procedures by which groups of people get things done—must be interwoven intimately with the organization of the technology used to do the work. It tries to reach both professional and academic audiences and suffers a bit in doing each. (Reviewed by Frank M. Howell, North Carolina State University)
Software Reviews : Clinical Interview. the Mental Health Series Publisher: Clinical Interviews, Inc., 7025 East Lake Road, Box 69, Willard, NY 14588 (telephone: 607-869-5955) Year of Publication: 1986 Materials: One floppy disk, nine-page xeroxed manual Price and Availability: Commodore 64, $30; Apple II + /IIe, $40; MS DOS (IBM and compatibles), $40; shipping and handling, $2.50 System Requirements: For MS DOS version, DOS 2.0 or later and an IBM-PC compatible; for other machines, no special requirements listed Effectiveness: Fair User-Friendliness: Excellent Documentation: Adequate
Authors: Alperson Jay
Published: August 2008

CLINICAL INTERVIEW is a computerized simulation of five patients with mental health problems. Students learn nondirective interviewing skills by typing questions that are answered by the simulated patients. After the interview, the students are told the number of times they used inappropriate words in their questions and the number of topics they covered. Unfortunately, the computerized patients frequently answer in nonresponsive ways. Furthermore, the strong language will offend some. While students liked this CAI program, other methods seem better suited to teaching interviewing skills.
Software Reviews : Statpacgold Publisher: Walonick Associates, 6500 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55423 (telephone: 800-328-4907 or 612-866-9022) Year of Publication: 1987 Materials: Five unprotected program disks, a sample data disk, a 500-page manual in a three-ring binder Price: $595 base price plus $195 for forecasting module Educational licensing is $595 plus $200 per year, which includes updates and gives the buyer the right to make unlimited copies of the manual and to buy faculty copies at $100 and student copies (disks only) at $20. Full site licensing for a one-time fee of $5,000, including updates, gives the buyer the unrestricted right to make copies of the manual and disks. Availability: IBM PC and compatibles System Requirements: 192K, hard disk with one megabyte free space; graphics adapter and Epson-compatible graphics printer required for graphics options Effectiveness: Excellent User-Friendliness: Excellent Documentation: Excellent
Authors: Garson G. David
Published: August 2008

STATPAC GOLD is a first-rate major statistical package in the same category as SYSTAT; both should be considered more price-effective competitors to SPSS/PC and SAS/PC. The new GOLD version (2.0) includes extensive forecasting procedures as well as descriptive statistics, crosstabs, ANOVA, multiple regression , probit, factor analysis, and graphics. Allowing up to 32,767 records of up to 500 variables each, it is one of the few microcomputer statistical packages that can handle large survey datasets, including multiple responses and computation of the sample size needed. It imports and exports standard ASCII files (fixed or comma-delimited) or DIF data interchange files and thus can interface easily with mainframe, Lotus, and dBASE data. In fact, all codebook, data, and command files are always in word processable ASCII format. This package stands out from the rest and deserves to be considered carefully. An evaluation copy is available for $50.
Software Reviews : Visual Statistics
Authors: Sebastiani Lori
Published: August 2008

VISUAL STATISTICS computes correlations, linear regressions, and descriptive statistics for sets of paired data. Users create graphic displays with a selection of simple, two-letter commands. Though the package may prove too limited and inconvenient for many research purposes, it shows promise as an education aid. In its present version, though, its true potential is obscured by distracting bugs and other flaws, which the author is encouraged to correct.
Software Reviews : Reflex, the Database Manager, Version 1.14 Publisher: Borland International, 4585 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (telephone: 408-438-8400) Years of Publication: 1984, 1986 Materials: User's guide, three disks (system, help, report & utilities) Suggested Retail Price: $149.95 (not copy-protected) Availability: IBM PC (XT, AT, Portable, 3270) and true compatibles with graphics capability System Requirements: 384K (program requires 290K, works with a number of expanded memory cards); PC DOS (MS DOS) 2.0 or later; double-sided, 360K for external storage; graphics printer or plotter (IBMcompatible color graphics or Hercules compatible) Effectiveness: Excellent User-Friendliness: Excellent Documentation: Excellent
Authors: Bergin Thomas , Boodro Janet
Published: August 2008

REFLEX is an extremely powerful file management program that allows data to be displayed in five different "views": a form view, a list view (spreadsheet format), a graph view, a report view, and a crosstab view. This is an excellent package for analyzing small to medium-sized datasets. The crosstab and graph views display data and data relationships in new patterns that show more in the data than can be seen in typical database management or spreadsheet packages. REFLEX is very user-friendly.
Book Reviews : Computing in Psychology: An Introduction to Programming Methods and Concepts Publisher: Prentice-Hall Year of Publication: 1987 Length: 354 pages Price: $21.95 paperback Intended Audience: Upper-level undergraduate students and beginning graduate students in psychology Clarity: Excellent Difficulty: Intermediate (requires elementary programming skills in Pascal
Authors: Reynolds James H.
Published: August 2008

This book is designed to introduce students in psychology to the skills and concepts that will allow them to understand and write computer programs in areas ranging from building models and perceptual processes to the simulation of natural-language processing. Students with a solid background in Pascal will have no trouble moving on to the more sophisticated language Lisp, but less able students may find some of the material difficult.
Book Reviews : Computers in Criminal Justice Administration and Management Publisher: Pilgrimage, A Division of Anderson Publishing Co. Year of Publication: 1984 Length: 183 pages Price: $12.95 Intended Audience: Criminal justice practitioners and academicians doing research on computers in the public sector Usefulness: Moderate Clarity: Fair Difficulty: Advanced
Authors: Archambeault William G. , Archambeault Betty J.
Published: August 2008

This book introduces the microcomputer as a management tool in criminal justice. The authors present theoretical discussions on public organizations, provide an introduction to the hardware and software of computers, and discuss databases, word processing, networking, and training.
Book Reviews : Computers in the Language Classroom Publisher: Addison-Wesley Year of Publication: 1987 Length: 297 pages Price: $18.75 Intended Audience: Teachers who want to use CAI, especially in language instruction Usefulness: High for teachers who use CAI or are new to computers, but probably low for most social scientists Clarity: High Difficulty: Novice
Authors: Hertz Robert M.
Published: August 2008

This is an excellent work for the stated purpose of introducing language teachers to CAI. It discusses general principles of CAI and also provides clear and powerful details about CAI. However, it is less useful for social scientists, who are less likely to have the "clearly delineated subject matter" appropriate to CAI.
Book Reviews : dBASEIII Plus Power Tools
Authors: Krumm Rob
Published: August 2008

This is an outstanding resource book for the social scientist who has mastered the fundamentals of dBASEIII programming and who wants to know where to go next. The work is full of valuable explanations and examples. For instance, one section shows how to capture into dBASE files downloaded data from a financial or other online data service. How to do form letters, including interfacing with WORDSTAR or WORDPERFECT, is covered. Other topics: how to do bar charts in dBASE , how to make pop-up menus, dialing phone numbers from within dBASE programs, regression analysis, data exchange with LOTUS and other spreadsheets, working with SUPERKEY and other memory-resident programs, using compilers, and financial calculations. This book takes up where good introductory texts (e.g., Chou, dBASEIII Plus Handbook) leave off and is highly recommended as a more advanced reference resource.
Computerized Simulation: An Overview
Authors: Crookall David
Published: August 2008

Various issues and practices related to computerized simulation are outlined, particularly in relation to the other papers in this special issue of SSCORE. These cover such aspects as learning as both pedagogy and research, the "philosophy" of simulation, the relations between and the relative prominence of simulation techniques and computer technology, and various problems related to modelling, design, evaluation, and assumptions. Keywords computerized simulation, computers, learning, modelling, pedagogy, research, simulation, simulation design, simware.
PWORLD: A Precedent-Based Global Simulation
Authors: Schrodt Philip A.
Published: August 2008

A "world model" is constructed where precedent searching is one of the primary driving mechanisms. The simulation assumes that nations in the system are utility maximizers but that they have relatively primitive decision mechanisms and are strongly influenced by their previous short-term successes and those of other states in the system. This model of foreign-policy decision making has been heavily influenced by recent artificial intelligence studies and simulations.

States in the simulation can follow one of three distinct strategies to maximize growth: imperialism, militarism, or trade. In each of these modes, a state can either increase or decrease its level of behavior, or it can switch modes. Decisions to switch are based on the success of the policy in increasing simulated GNP relative to earlier pro jections of how much GNP would increase. If a policy is clearly not working, a nation implements the reverse of it, if the policy is not producing major improvements, the nation randomly experiments or looks at the success of other nations in the system and follows whatever has worked for them. If a policy is clearly successful, it is continued.

The simulation was run using a system vaguely characteristic of the 19th-century world system, with 5 large, 5 medium, and 10 small nations. The resulting behavior is generally plausible, with bounded and fairly diverse activity depending on the random experimentation involved Because of the weak bounded rationality, the system does not lock on to a single pattern of behavior based on initial conditions, and so, for example, situations exist where medium powers eventually become stronger than the initial major powers. The most common pattern is one of a combination of trade links and imperialism, with about half the minor power being colonized and some exchange of colonies occurring through conflict. Keywords: artificial intelligence, foreign policy, global simulation, precedent-searching simulation, world modeling, simulation.
The Redesign of Project Simulation for Microcomputer-Assisted Instruction in Psychology and Research Methodology
Authors: King Alan R. , King Barry F.
Published: August 2008

The field of computer-assisted instruction can be advanced significantly through creative applications of simulation software programs which utilize microcomputer technology. Problems in the maintenance and portability of software products limit the life cycle of these valuable instructional aids, and, most important, microcomputer software must be integrated effectively into courses and lectures. The present article offers guidelines to assist simulation developers in maximizing the lifespan of their software products through structured designs and creative attempts at integrating their programs into standard courses. Current efforts to redesign PROJECT SIMULATION, a computer-assisted instructional software package for teaching methodology in psychology, for use on microcomputers illustrate the principles set forth in the report. Keywords: computerized simulation, software maintenance, software portability, research methodology, psychology, game design.
Software Reviews : Everybody's Planner
Authors: Rosati Robert J.
Published: August 2008

EVERYBODY'S PLANNER is really two separate programs designed for project management and flowcharting. The first, SCHEDULES, is functionally based on the critical-path method of project management. With this program it is possible to develop critical-path diagrams using PERT charts and project calendars. SCHEDULES prints reports for management of resources, budgets, and scheduling. The second program, FLOWCHARTS, can create single- or multiple-page flowcharts directly onscreen. The program allows for the use of standard flowchart symbols with the inclusion of labels. Flowcharts can be printed on most graphics printers.
Software Reviews : Guide Publisher: Ow1 International, Inc., 14218 NE 21st St., Bellevue, WA 98007 (telephone: 206-747-3203) Year of Publication: 1986 Materials: Two disks (master disk and examples disk), 198-page manual Price: $134.95 Machine Specificity: Apple Macintosh System Requirements: Apple Macintosh 512K, Plus or XL (second disk drive recommended) Effectiveness: Fair User-Friendliness: Fair Documentation: Fair
Authors: Tankard James W.
Published: August 2008

GUIDE is software for creating, exploring, and using hypertext. It can be used to create electronic documents, which are not limited by the confinements or two-dimensional nature of paper. GUIDE is being promoted as having some of the features of a word processor, an outline processor, and a database manager, but probably it is not a substitute for any of the three. Basically, it should be viewed as an experimental program that can give us some of the feel of hypertext, but with some shortcomings.
Software Reviews : Expressionist
Authors: Coursey David H.
Published: August 2008

EXPRESSIONIST is a scientific word-processing package that produces complex mathematical equations primarily with laser printers. It can operate alone or in conjunction with MACWRITE. The program is easy to use and has quite powerful editing capabilities. The user manual is a bit difficult to use. Overall, EXPRESSIONIST is a fine program for preparing mathematical equations.
Software Reviews : The Americain Revolution
Authors: Manrique Cecilia G.
Published: August 2008

In this simulation of the American Revolution the user takes on the role of the editor of a large New York weekly newspaper, circa 1761. As editor he or she picks up newsworthy stories from various sources. These events are briefly described onscreen and the player is asked to choose from three classes of headlines which are loyalist (conservative), neutral (moderate), or patriotic (liberal) in tone. According to the choice of tone, the newspaper's readership changes and the readers are politicized, thereby influencing the impending revolution.
Book Reviews : Artificial Intelligence and Psychiatry Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 32 E. 57th St., New York, NY 10022 Year of Publication: 1985 Length: 266 pages Price: $39.50 Intended Audience: Psychiatrists and other mental health workers Usefulness: Good Clarity: Good Difficulty: Variable
Authors: Hand D.J.
Published: August 2008

Artificial Intelligence and Psychiatry is a detailed discussion of the relationship of computer science to psychiatric practice. To illustrate his points, the author reviews schematically a number of concepts of artificial intelligence programming without introducing technical knowledge of programming or mathematics. It is well referenced and its tone is very positive, stopping short of strident.
Book Reviews : Machinery of the Mind: Inside the New Science of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Johnson George
Published: August 2008

Machinery of the Mind is a very well written journalistic account of the efforts of various practitioners and critics of artificial intelligence in the United States.
Book Reviews : Prolog for Programmers
Authors: Kluzniak Feliks , Szpakowicz Stanislaw , Bien Janusz S.
Published: August 2008

This book reveals many things about Prolog that a programmer would like to know. It would not be a good choice for beginners. It contains a variety of applications which might be useful to social scientists, including a natural-language parser, and a small program for implementing plans in a fixed physical environment. It is very clearly written. (Reviewed by Jeffrey Hart, Indiana University.)
Book Reviews : Perfect Pascal Programs Publisher: Tab Books, Inc. Year of Publication: 1985 Length: 278 pages Price: $16.95 Intended Audience: Apple Pascal programmers Usefulness: Moderate to high Clarity: Good Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
Authors: Platt Robert
Published: August 2008

Perfect Pascal Programs is a collection of articles and program listings written in an entertaining style and containing a wealth of useful programs and tips for serious users of the Apple Pascal/UCSD p-system. The articles are varied and full of practical advice on programming as well as other information, such as a listing of public-domain Pascal software.
Computers, Mass Media, and Schooling: Functional Equivalence in Uses of New Media
Authors: Lieberman Debra A. , Chaffee Steven H. , Roberts Donald F.
Published: August 2008

Functional equivalence theory was applied to a study of eighth graders contrasting recreational users and intellectual users of computers in terms of academic performance and use of other media. Recreational users, who play video games frequently, were the heaviest television viewers and performed the most poorly at school. Intellectual users, who use computers for writing programs and for schoolwork, were the lightest television viewers and demonstrated the highest school performance; they were also infrequent leisure readers. Multi-users, who engage in both recreational and intellectual computer use, were the most infrequent readers. Low users, who seldom or never use computers, were the most frequent leisure-time readers. These findings suggest that computer use may be functionally equivalent to reading for some children and may be displacing time they would otherwise spend with print media. Future research using panel studies could examine whether the time spent with various media is actually changing as children gain access to computers. This study also finds that different factors are associated with amount and type of computer use. By amount of use, frequent computer users have the most access to the technology and are the most infrequent readers. By type of use, intellectual users are the most academically motivated and the least frequent television viewers, while recreational users are the least academically motivated and the most frequent television viewers. Keywords: children, adolescents, mass media, reading, television, computer use, video games, computer programming, functional equivalence, attitudes, academic motivation, self-efficacy, computer access.
Office Technology and Employee Attitudes
Authors: Gattiker Urs E. , Gutek Barbara A. , Berger Dale E.
Published: August 2008

The relationship between office computerization and employee gender and organizational level remains relatively unexplored. Based on earlier findings, this study predicted that individual attitudes towards technology would differ according to social background variables and the type of technology used. A survey of 81 office employees confirmed this and found that personal computers had effects statistically different from word processors and mainframe terminals. The implications for researchers as well as practitioners are discussed. Keywords computer-mediated work, office technology, office automation, quality of work life, work effectiveness, employee attitudes, gender, communication, control.
Computers and the Law
Authors: Frank Michael W. , Krassa Michael A. , Pacek Alexander C. , Radcliff Benjamin
Published: August 2008

This paper provides an overview of the applicability of microcomputers to the practice of law. Three broad categories of usage are examined: office management, decision analysis and modeling, and instruction. The paper concludes with a discussion of the potential uses of expert systems in the simulation of legal reasoning. Keywords: instructional aids, databases, expert systems, law, decision aids, modeling, negotiation, linear programming.
Software Tools for Data Collection: Microcomputer-Assisted Interviewing
Authors: Carpenter Edwin H.
Published: August 2008

Computer-assisted interviewing by telephone, in person, and through mailed diskette is increasing in use. The phenomenal success of computer-assisted interviewing is attributed to the speed of data collection and processing, increased accuracy of results, lower costs, reductions in respondent-interviewer burden, and the researcher's enhanced ability to elicit appropriate information through detailed contingent questioning or branching systems. Here attributes and capabilities for computer-assisted data collection are evaluated in 16 microcomputer-based packages. Keywords: computer-assisted interviewing, computer-assisted telephone interviewing, telephone interviewing, mail survey, computer-assisted personal interviewing.
Anthropology and Computing: The Challenges of the 1990s
Authors: White Douglas R. , Truex Gregory F.
Published: August 2008

The use of computers in the analysis of fieldwork, texts, and socioculturally embedded systems is examined in relation to advances in problems of cultural anthropology, including synthesis of trait with textual and network analysis within a more general conception of cultures as distributed systems. Keywords: ethnography, cognitive testing, representation and inference generators, hypertext and text analysis, hypermedia, spatial autocorrelation, scaling, consensus analysis, modular and didactic programs.
Computerized Economic Modeling: From Laboratory to Classroom
Authors: Breece James H.
Published: August 2008

This paper investigates the growing popularity of computerized economic modeling as a computer-assisted instructional aid and the associated educational benefits. It also provides an overview of current modeling, simulation, and econometrics programs and attempts to identify trends in computer-assisted instruction in economics. Keywords: computer-assisted instruction, simulations, software, forecasting, personal computers, economic modeling.
Computers in Political Science
Authors: Hart Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2008

This article focuses first on two types of innovation in software, microcomputer simulations and applications of artificial intelligence, and second, on innovations in hardware that will have implications for political science research. It also adds to previous reviews of computing in political science (e.g., Frantzich & Purkitt, 1987) by discussing some relatively obscure but relevant and potentially valuable information services. Keywords: simulation, artificial intelligence, online databases.
Communication Issues Among Psychologists Working With Computers: A View From the Top
Authors: Mruk Christopher J.
Published: August 2008

This article examines the issues that confront psychologists as they communicate about their activities and interests in computers and computerization. One leading psychologist who facilitates such communication in each major medium, including one from electronic bulletin boards, is interviewed. The interviews are analyzed in terms of common themes and current trends. Keywords. psychology, psychologists, computers, communication, organization.
Microcomputers and Statisticians: A 1988 Perspective
Authors: Marsh Paul
Published: August 2008

A user's perception of the capabilities of a statistical package greatly affects the approach and extent of a given data analysis. As microcomputers have evolved into workstations, the standards of statistical software are being greatly altered. Advances in both the hardware and the operating systems associated with microcomputers point the way to a whole new methodology for performing research. This article briefly reviews the state of microcomputer statistical software and then discusses future trends. Keywords. microcomputers, statistical computing, statistical graphics.
Computer Literacy: The Employment Myths
Authors: Robins Kevin , Webster Frank
Published: August 2008

This article contends that enthusiasm for "computer literacy" programs in education is misplaced. Focusing on recent expenence in Britain, it argues that computer literacy courses are indefensible in terms of vocational needs, skill requirements, social mobility opportunities, access to power, and the needs of employers. It charges that concern for hands-on computer instruction actually disguises the most important features of the "information society." Keywords: computer literacy, education, employment, skills, power, social mobility.
The Attack on Computer Literacy
Authors: Attewell Paul
Published: August 2008

This paper provides a commentary on Robins and Webster's article "Computer Literacy: The Employment Myths" within the broader context of critiques of computer literacy. The author argues that the various critics of computer literacy are participants in wider disputes over pedagogical method, the purposes of education, and the role of education in a class society. In some ways computer literacy provides a pretext for these more general controversies, and the particular merits and problems of educational computing frequently become submerged under these wider debates. The author concludes that many of Robins and Webster's points are overdrawn, and that computer literacy is neither as useless nor as dangerous as they imply. Keywords: computers, employment, education, cognition.
Software Reviews : Socterms Publisher: Conduit, University of Iowa, Oakdale Campus, Iowa City, IA 52242 (telephone: 319-335-4100) Year of Publication: 1988 Materials: Instructor's notes (19 pages), two 5.25-inch double-sided double-density diskettes (one original and one backup), supplementary materials containing installation directions Price: Single copy, $60; educator packs: 6 copies, $120; 15 copies, $200, 25 copies, $300 (student copy available in the near future for schools that buy SOCTERMS, $15-$20) Machine Specificity: IBM PC, PC-XT, PCJR with extended memory option; IBM PS/2 models 25, 30, 50, 60; true compatibles System Requirements: IBM DOS 2.10-3.20, one 5.25-inch double-sided floppy diskette drive, 192K RAM, color graphics (CGA, EGA) or monochrome adapter and monitor Effectiveness: Good User-Friendliness: Excellent Documentation: Excellent
Authors: Lodge Peter
Published: August 2008

SOCTERMS is a collection of computer exercises designed to provide an interesting way of teaching or reviewing basic sociological terminology. The underlying objective of SOCTERMS is to reduce or eliminate the class time typically devoted to terminology and free this time for more stimulating endeavors.
Software Reviews : Minark, Version 4.11 Publisher: Quantitative Systems, Pty. Ltd., PO Box 67, St. Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia. U.S. office: PO Box 462, Cayucos, CA 93430 (telephone: 213-644-6141) Year of Publication: 1988 Materials: Four diskettes, manual (approx. 170 pages), 90-day phone consultation service Price: $495; site license: $495 for first station, $250 for second, $225 for third, $200 for fourth, $175 for fifth, $150 for each additional; annual update service, $495 (updates through 5.0, one-year phone consultation support and copies of MINARK News); limited extended support, $100 (updates through 4.xx and one-year phone consultation support) Machine Specificity: IBM PC, compatibles, generic MS DOS System Requirements: 512K RAM, two drives Effectiveness: Good User-Friendliness: Fair Documentation: Fair
Authors: Sidel Philip
Published: August 2008

MINARK is a large, versatile database management system designed specifically to meet the needs of archaeologists. It can accommodate special complexities—multiple record types, sparse records, repeated variables within a record—typically found in data from multiple archaeological sites. These same capabilities make it useful to other scholars for such diverse databases as bibliographies, historical records, reading and lecture notes, and administrative records. However, this flexibility comes at a price: the start-up effort is considerable.
High Tech in City Hall: Uses and Effects of Microcomputers in United States Local Governments
Authors: Norris Donald F.
Published: August 2008

Local governments in the United States have rushed headlong to embrace a new technology, the microcomputer, in the absence of research on the effects of this technology. This paper reports the findings of case studies on the uses and effects of microcomputers in over 65 individual departments in 12 United States cities. These findings indicate that microcomputers have had generally positive effects on the organizations and people who use them. Despite indications that the adoption, implementation, and use of microcomputers in these cities were essentially unmanaged, there were few negative effects, and these were largely correctable. Keywords: computers, microcomputers, municipalities, cities, local governments, computer effects, computer uses, high technology, technology innovation, technology effects, training.
Socioeconomic Status and the Early Diffusion of Personal Computing in the United States
Authors: Dutton William H. , Sweet Patrick L. , Rogers Everett M.
Published: August 2008

Here we analyze the socioeconomic factors associated with the adoption of a particular information technology ("home computing" or "personal computing") by households in the Umted States. Past research highlights the dominant role of socioeconomic status, particularly formal education, in accounting for the early adoption, use, and social impacts of microcomputers among households. Theoretical explanations for this role of socioeconomic status are identified, and then explored with data from a sample survey of U.S. households. Multivariate analytic techniques are utilized to explore the relationships of education, occupation, and income with the adoption of personal computers. Income played a more pivotal role in the early diffusion of personal computing than previously thought. Keywords: socioeconomic status, personal computing, microcomputers, information technology, communication technology, social impacts.
Reconciling Data from Different Geographic Databases
Authors: Hinze Kenneth E.
Published: August 2008

Social scientists often find data relevant to their research subjects to be divided among various data sets based on dissimilar geographic units. Some data may be aggregated by census units, others by election districts, yet others by city zoning boundaries. New software reported here now makes it possible to reconcile data which are spatially aggregated on different bases, and to do so in a way which in tests on four difficult surfaces yielded results correlated at the .85 to 92 level with actual values. The logic of the surface compatibility method used by this software is described and evaluated. Keywords. data reconciliation, data analysis, geobase, surface-compatibility, interpolation, microcomputers, urban data.
Statistical and Graphical Research Methods: State of the Art
Authors: Carpenter Edwin H. , Axelson Rick D.
Published: August 2008

Recent developments in software products have provided researchers with an opportunity for more effective data analysis and presentation of findings. In addition to expanding researchers' options for data analysis and presentation, the easy-to-use interfaces of new software products will likely decrease the amount of time spent in and improve the results of such activities. This paper discusses the capabilities of several statistics and graphics packages, file conversion software, and expert systems for study design and data analysis. In order to provide researchers flexibility in moving from data analysis to presentation of results, particular attention is paid to the linkages among statistical and graphical packages. By bringing these methodological advances to researchers' attention, it is expected that the research enterprise will be enhanced as the researcher finds greater freedom to display research results graphically. Keywords: computing, statistical packages, data graphics, expert systems.
Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom: The Impact of a Computer-Based Tutor on Teachers and Students
Authors: Schofield Janet Ward , Evans-Rhodes Debra , Huber Brad R.
Published: August 2008

This study assessed the impact of utilization of an artificially intelligent geometry proof tutor on classroom social processes. Both teachers' and students' behaviors changed. Teachers devoted more time to their slower students, treated students in a more collegial fashion, and increased their emphasis on effort in grading students. Students showed a marked increase in task-related effort and involvement. This change appeared to be due to an increase both in the students' enjoyment of the class and in the level of peer competition. Keywords artificial intelligence, classroom social behavior, teachers' roles, competition, grading, teacher authority, embarrassment.
Gender and Race Differences in Computing Attitudes and Experience
Authors: Badagliacco Joanne M.
Published: August 2008

A gender and race/ethnicity gap exists both m computer experience and computer attitudes. The fact that computer-related activities are seen as white and male may influence and discourage women and minorities from making an academic commitment to careers for which high-technology skills are essential. Through these societal perceptions of computers as white and male, and through related instructional biases in our schools, we may be creating a technological underclass. To understand these differences and to help to try to alleviate them, this study was designed to determine how individuals' attitudes toward computing differ, what roles computers play in their lives, and what issues negatively affect their participation and attitudes. A questionnaire was administered to students at a large public urban university. We found that (i) men have more computer experience, (2) men have more favorable attitudes toward computers—women had significantly less favorable attitude scores, (3) persons of different races or ethnicities have differing computer experience—whites had the most years of experience, Hispanics had the fewest years of experience; (4) attitudes toward computing differ by race and ethnicity Several implications for instruction are drawn from the results. Keywords computers, attitudes toward computing, race/ethnicity differences, gender differences, computing experience.
Software to Reduce Ethical Dilemmas
Authors: Nagel Stuart S.
Published: August 2008

Spreadsheet-based software facilitates multi-criteria decision analysis by allowing (1) many columns for goals to be achieved, (2) many rows for alternatives available for achieving the goals, (3) many cells for showing the relations between goals and alternatives, (4) a capability for determining overall scores for each alternative even with multiple ways of measuring the goals, and (5) a special capability for determining what it would take to bring a second-place or other-place alternative up to first place. Those capabilities in turn help facilitate resolving dilemmas or disputes by arriving at solutions in which each side yields on some goals that are not so important to it and in which a variety of combinations can be developed that will possibly even exceed the best expectations of both sides to an ethical dilemma or dispute. Keywords: representation, ethics, decision-aiding, software, spreadsheets, alternatives, goals, relations, sensitivity analysis, criteria, policies, options, mutual benefit, and super-optimum solutions.
Computers and Ethical Treatment for Brain-Injured Patients
Authors: Ackerman Rosalie J. , Banks Martha E.
Published: August 2008

Special treatments are needed for the rehabilitation of brain-injured patients as well as for other medical illnesses The ethical criteria for outcome are the welfare and positive results in recovery, using multidisciplinary perspectives. Pervasive ethical issues include inappropriately and/or poorly trained rehabilitation practitioners; trends toward replacement of clinicians with computers, exclusion of neuropsychologists from treatment planning and monitoring of cognitive rehabilitation; sociopolitical biases which limit access to treatment; limited vocational goal formulation; overlooking common sources of head injury; violation of patient confidentiality; poorly developed treatment programs, including software, use of standardized psychological tests as training exercises; and unnormed computerized assessment software. This paper addresses the above problems with a focus on brain-injured patients. Solutions are recommended and can be used as a basis for ethical considerations by other disciplines. Recommended ethical approaches are illustrated, using computer-assisted neuropsychological rehabilitation. Keywords brain injured, ethics, rehabilitation, computers, gender, neuropsychological, treatment.
Public Opinion Toward Computers as a Function of Exposure
Authors: McQuarrie Edward F. , Iwamoto Kichiro
Published: August 2008

A mail survey of registered voters in California examines attitudes toward computer technology. Among both users and non-users, more positive attitudes are associated with greater exposure to computers. The influence of exposure extends to specific opinions and values as well as global affect. The fact of exposure, not benefits received or self-selection, appears to be the key factor in this shift of attitude. The results suggest that a "computer imperative" characterizes reactions to this technology. Keywords : social impact of technology, diffusion of innovations, home computers, computers and society, technological imperative, computer phobia, attitudes toward computers.
Teaching Intermediate Macroeconomics as A Lab Science: Some Initial Observations
Authors: Bartlett Robin L. , King Paul G.
Published: August 2008

This article examines the possibility of combining a laboratory format with the traditional lecture format typically used to teach intermediate macroeconomic theory. The authors argue that this new lecture/laboratory format enables instructors to improve student understanding of both theoretical and empirical issues in intermediate macroeconomics. In the laboratory, using Macintosh personal computers, students collect data drawn from recent U.S. history, examine the validity of particular macroeconomic concepts, and write position papers about alternative policy measures. One result of this new instructional format is that students become more active and mdependent learners. Keywords computers, data analysis, economic pedagogy, laboratories, macroeconomic theory.
Software Reviews : Computer Software and Legal Decision Making: A Review Essay
Authors: Nagel Stuart S.
Published: August 2008

The purpose of this article is to describe the nature, classifications, and literature of the new decision-aiding software which relates to law practice and the legal process.
Learning Outcomes of Game-Theoretic Computer Simulation: An Evaluation
Authors: Pétry François
Published: August 2008

This article reports an experimental use of Conflict and Cooperation ( C&C) in a large undergraduate class and evaluates the effect of using the program on student learning as compared with the next best conventional teaching method. Keywords: prisoner's dilemma, computer simulation, game theory, collective goods, cooperation.
Expert Systems: An Overview for Social Scientists
Authors: Garson G. David
Published: August 2008

This survey article examines the nature of expert systems, describes conventional approaches to expert systems construction, discusses contexts in which expert systems are and are not appropriate, provides private and public sector examples of expert systems, and inventories various types of expert systems development tools. In addition, separate sections examine the special topics of inductive expert systems and of neural networks. It is concluded that expert system software could become an important new class of tools for social scientists. Keywords expert systems, neural networks, artificial intelligence, modeling, social science.
Software Reviews : Inter-Nation Simulation IV
Authors: Mandel Robert
Published: August 2008

Inter-Nation Simulation IV ( INS4) is a dynamic microcomputer model of the international system based on Harold Guetzkow's work at Northwestern University in the 1950s. About six decision making teams are assigned to prototype nations with defined characteristics concerning internal satisfaction with domestic and foreign policy, population and natural resources, research and development, military capability and defense, capital formation and depreciation, political structure, and national budget. A standard simulation run consists of a briefing, a trial period, several decision sessions dealing with a particular issue (four alternative scenarios are provided), and a debriefing.
Software Reviews : JMP
Authors: Huber James H.
Published: August 2008

JMP is one of the best statistical management programs available to the Macintosh user in the social sciences. By presenting statistics in a graphic manner, one can intuitively grasp the meaning in one's data and discover interesting patterns on the monitor's screen. Its ability to manage data is outstanding. Statistical procedures also are automatically available at three levels of measurement appropriate for one's data. An impressive array of simple-to-invoke statistical tests are available for use and then presented in a unique visual-graphic manner which allows the user to explore the shape of the data on screen.
Software Reviews : AXUM
Authors: Carpenter Edwin H.
Published: August 2008

This is a technical graphics and data analysis which is relevant for the presentation of data and findings in 2D and 3D technical graphics for analytical and presentation purposes. Related products include : Sigma Plot, Graftool, Surfer, and Grapher.
Some Key Emerging Trends in Statistical and Graphical Software for the Social Scientist
Authors: Steiger James H. , Fouladi Rachel T.
Published: August 2008

In this article, we identify key trends in the development of statistical, graphical, and word processing software for the social scientist. We examine the trends from the perspective of the social scientist with a typical background in applied statistics, intent on developing a high-power, low-cost personal workstation for data analysis and manuscript production. Keywords: statistics, graphics, word processing, microcomputer software.
Teaching Sociology: Toward Collaborative Social Relations in Educational Situations
Authors: Suoranta Juha
Published: August 2008

In this article I argue that pedagogical reform is needed in the current Westernized teaching of sociology to create a new, more equal, humane and ecologically sound world. Present teaching methods encourage instrumental approaches to studying and learning. As a result, students seem to have grown indifferent to learning, becoming mere reflections of their study environment. In confronting the needed pedagogical reform, I focus on the smallest particle of higher education — the structure of the teaching and learning process in the sociology classroom, and suggest the implementation of collaborative learning situations.