Computers, computers! (Director, SSRC Survey Unit, 1970-76, always kept a slide-rule on his desk) It’s quicker to count them by foot! Dr Mark Abrams (1906.

Computers, computers!

(Director, SSRC Survey Unit, 1970-76, always kept a slide-rule on his desk)

It’s quicker to count them by foot!

Dr Mark Abrams (1906 –1994)

He also said,

"Don’t get it right: get it written!"

…and,

"If it’s worth saying, you can say it in percentages."

Old Dog, Old Tricks

Using SPSS syntax to avoid the mouse trap

In the blue corner:

(I believe in miracles…)

In the red corner:

(…and I just ♥ SPSS files)

..otherwise known as

JFH

(…and they tell me I perform miracles)

…by changing this

ii

(or its equivalent SPSS file)

…to this (et voilà!)

But first:

The Tools of Survey Research

Old technology, but still best to start

…then you’ll need these!

Even older technology: best of all!

Engage brain before touching keyboard!

Once upon a time in Salford, way back in 1965,

….lived a KDF9 computer which worked, both for input and output,

on 8-hole paper tape

What does F mean in KDF9?

Legend has it that the KDF9 was developed as project KD9 (Kidsgrove Development 9) and that the 'F' in its designation was contributed by the then Chairman.

After a long and tedious discussion on what to name the machine at launch, he declared,

"I don't care if you call it the F.......".

8-hole paper tape

8-hole paper tape punch

Note: Can’t see what you’ve typed!!

There was also one of these: Old technology - Salford University 1966

• Note extra-wide carriage to take foolscap paper sideways• Copies by retyping or by carbon paper (not shown)

80-column Hollerith card

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

IBM Key 026 card-punch machine

IBM Key 026 card-punch machine

IBM Card Sorter

Data Layout Sheet 1 (SSRC Survey Unit, 1971)

Data Layout Sheet 2 (SSRC Survey Unit, 1975)

Data and programs on Hollerith cards

• Everything had to be programmed in Fortran • Survey processing programs required special

meaningful entries in specific columns, but these were meaningless to social researchers

• Permission reluctantly granted for them to use the nice computer in the Maths Dept

Once upon a time in America

…the boys got together to make things easier

(political science postgrads at Stanford: late 1960s )

“ devised a language  that a political scientist would want to write to specify

an analysis.” 

and hired Tex Hull to  help with coding the program ( in Fortran IV for the IBM360 )

Norman Nie and Dale Bent

…and SPSS was:

Born in the USA

in 1968

Jean Jenkins replaced Dale Bent

…and SPSS came to UK in 1970

We brought SPSS to UK• Tony Coxon • David Muxworthy

Immediate impact of SPSS(Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)

• Blue manual (Nie, Hull & Jenkins) sold in hundreds• Upset programmers because it was inefficient• Upset statisticians because it by-passed them• Upset environmentalists as forests disappeared• Sociologists loved it and it spread like wild-fire

Research is a substitute for action

(Old UK public sector research proverb)

….and SPSS is a substitute for thought!

(SSRC Survey Unit riposte)

Constraints on course design and training materials

• Timetable slots available

• Staff knowledge and experience

• Major data sets in public domain

• Lecture room facilities

• Computing facilities (terminals, printers)

• Students (prior skill, motivation, affordability)

• Typing and reprographics (one side of A4)

One side of A4