An Integrated Network Interface Between the Researcher and Social Science Data Resources: In Search of a Practical Vision

Abstract

It is clear that major data archives such as the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) must soon be able to offer a wide range of services over the Internet. This paper suggests that ICPSR should attempt to provide a full range of integrated network services to the data librarian and to the individual researcher, permitting substantive searches, perusal of documentation, extracts from data, data analyses, and receipt of data within the context of a simple and friendly desktop environment. A set of principles for such a service are suggested in the hopes that the data librarian, computer science, and research communities will discuss them and aid ICPSR in reaching sound decisions. Key to these principles is that the service must be standards-based rather than based on proprietary or unique software. Keywords: telecommunications, social science, networks, Internet, data access, social science research.