USING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH PROMIS (PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM - AN EXAMPLE (FROM PROJECT SEARCH - INTL SYMP, 2D - PRCDNGS, APRIL 30 - MAY 2, 1974, BY E CRESSWELL - SEE NCJ-25660)

• NCJ Number: 25699
• Author(s): F CANNAVALE
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-SS-99-3312; 75-SS-99-6007
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: SEARCH Group Inc.
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DESCRIPTION AND DISCUSSION OF PROMIS, AND AN ANALYSIS OF SOME OF ITS DATA TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS OF A SOCIAL RESEARCHER WHEN UTILIZING A LARGE INFORMATION SYSTEM.

Abstract

PROMIS, DEVELOPED IN 1969 BY THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CONTAINS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEFENDANT, THE VICTIM(S) OF AND THE WITNESS(ES) TO A CRIME, THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED, THE GRAVITY OF THE ACT, AND A DIARY OF COURT EVENTS WHICH INCLUDES A RECORD OF PROSECUTOR AND JUDICIAL DECISIONS. THE ANALYSIS PRESENTED HERE DISCUSSES THE PROBLEMS OF DEFINING VARIABLES, OF MEASUREMENT, AND OF TRACING VARIABLES IN A DATA BASE ACROSS TIME. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE SAMPLING, THE USE OF STATISTICS, AND THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SOCIAL SCIENTIST AND THE SYSTEMS ANALYST. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)