Abstract:

Without wishing to be openly critical of current methods of research analysis I would like to suggest that data is often accepted at face value because it is thought to be uneconomical or inconvenient to subject the data to more critical testing. This paper suggests that the problem is either an historical one in that quick stabs at the computer used to be very expensive, or that the users are a little wary or even ignorant of the benefits or possibilities of interactive computing. By putting interactive survey analysis into perspective I hope merely to generate some reappraisal of analysis methods. By illustrating ways in which terminals can be used profitably I hope to generate the need for a reappraisal.