Software Reviews : Ci2 SYSTEM 100,Version 1.1 Reviewed by Frank M. Howell,Mississippi State University Publisher: Sawtooth Software,Inc.,P.O. Box 3429,208 Spruce North,Ketchum,ID 83340 (telephone: [phone]) Year of Publication: 1985 Materials: Three diskettes (system disk,installation disk,sample questionnaire;demo disk available at no charge);148-page manual;summary card for color-codes used in Logic program and function keys used in Frame Editor. Note: there are several Ci2 "systems" offered by Sawtooth Software,emphasizing research or teaching. The one reviewed is the Research System 100,allowing a 100-question capacity. There is a 250-question research system ($2000.00) as well as a "Lab Version," which is identical to the higher-priced System 50 commercial package and is reasonably priced at $200 for the first copy and $100 for each additional copy. Price: $900.00 Machine Specificity: IBM PC or compatible with a minimum of 128K of memory,two 360K floppy disk drives (or 1 floppy and 1 hard disk drive),color monitor (works fine with a monochrome monitor). Note: This is for questionnaire development;only one floppy disk drive is necessary for interviewing (see below). System Requirements: Software is designed for use with a color monitor;however,a monochrome monitor will work fine since there are program commands to implement inverse and flashing text and symbols. Printer not required but useful. Effectiveness: Good User-Friendliness: Excellent Documentation: Good

Abstract

Summary: A major-league software package implementing computer-directed and computer-assisted interviewing using the microcomputer. The Ci2 SYSTEM comes in several versions, both for research and teaching purposes, and is the most complete and lowest-priced software of its type on the market. It maintains a compatibility with other packages through the capacity to export standard ASCII data files and implements some of the most current techniques of survey research-such as randomization of item-sets, use of color visuals, and branching. The capacity for programming the logic underlying questionnaire branching is powerful, yet easy to use. Telephone user- support is very good. C~2 will be of serious interest to all those involved in (non-mail) survey research.