Computer Use and Software Development by Sociologists: Current Practice and Future Prospects

Abstract

Although the American Sociological Association is moving toward formalizing a microcomputer users' group, there is still a shortage of authors of software products for teaching substantive sociology that are not tied to a specific textbook. New approaches to integrating textbooks with computers, generic computer tools for teaching and research, and the use of computers in qualitative sociology are covered. The essay concludes with speculations about the future of computing in sociology. Keywords: computmg, sociology, qualitative sociology, courseware, microsimulation, CAI.

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