Edward Brent is Professor of Sociology,
Adjunct Professor of Computer Science,
and a member of the board of the Laboratory for Applied Expert Systems Research (LAESR) at
the University of Missouri - Columbia. He received his Ph.D. in
sociology from the University of Minnesota in 1976 and has taught
at the University of Missouri - Columbia since January of 1976.
He is also president of The Idea Works, Inc.,
an information technology company specializing in the development
and publication of expert systems for business, industry, research,
and human services.
Research
Expert Systems for Research and Proposal Writing
For over 10 years we have been developing expert systems to assist
with the design and conduct of research. I use these programs
in the classroom to help students understand the research process.
They are also intended to help practicing researchers design research
proposals for funding. These programs help determine sample size
(Ex-Sample™), the appropriate statistics
(Statistical Navigator™ ), how to graph
empirical data (WhichGraph™ ), how to identify
existing scales and measures or develop your own (Measurement & Scaling Strategist™ ),
how to design experiments and quasi-experiments (Designer Research™ ),
and choosing appropriate data collection procedures (Data Collection Selection™).
More recently, we have developed a program that ties all of these
other programs together and helps researchers develop research
proposals for funding--Peer Review Emulator (PRE)™ .
Sociological Reasoning With a Computer
In research initially funded by a special grant from the Provost's
Office of the University of Missouri and later by a grant from
the Research Board, we are exploring ways to use a computer program
to reproduce sociological reasoning. The initial project produced
the ERVING program--an artificial intelligence-based program written
in PROLOG that emulated the reasoning of Erving Goffman. The current
work is extending this strategy by implementing the program in
our own expert system shell, 4-Thought, and using it to represent
the reasoning of several different sociological theorists. Currently
we are extending the program to cover additional content from
Erving Goffman and, in a separate project, using it to represent
the reasoning of Stewart Clegg's Frameworks of Power. This
work is still in progress and is not yet available for distribution.
Expert Systems for the Elderly
Together with Ruth Brent and a number of graduate students over
the years, we have developed an expert system to examine the home
environment of the elderly to identify ways in which the home
could be made safer and more comfortable (Home-Safe-Home™ ).
Hyper-Soc™:Computing
in Introductory Sociology
Hyper-Soc is a hypertext program for teaching introductory sociology
developed by myself and Alan Thompson. For the instructor it provides
presentation materials for use in the classroom including excellent
data graphs and interactive simulations. For the student it provides
an electronic text to study and a computerized sociological laboratory
for sociology. It includes over 48 simulations linked to the text
content of the program. The program automatically grades student
lab exercises and the instructor need only record the grades See
Idea Works™
for more information.
Peer Review Emulator (PRE) is an expert system to help prepare
research proposals for peer review. In PRE the researcher begins
with an overview of the major components of a research proposal.
As each topic is selected, the user sees successively more detailed
screens with the subcomponents of each section. The user answers
questions about their research and provides brief text summaries
of each section on these forms. As they work, the program displays
an up-to-date summary of which components they have completed
and which remain to be done. PRE uses information provided by
the user to critique their work, pointing out areas where they
don't yet meet common research standards. Unlike methods texts
that separate major steps in the research process into separate
chapters with little or no connection among them, PRE reminds
users of links between components of the research proposal. When
decisions in the design or sampling plan influence measurement
strategies, the program points those out to the user. This helps
avoid inconsistencies among sections. PRE combines the answers
of the user with their text input to generate a draft of the proposal
in its current form. The draft is saved in a text file that can
be edited with a word processor to produce a final proposal.
PRE comes in both a teaching version intended for use in undergraduate
and graduate research methods courses and a professional version
that links to the other programs in the Methodologist's Toolchest.
See Idea Works™
for more information.
Statistical Navigator uses artificial intelligence reasoning and
an extensive hypertext knowledge base to help researchers select
appropriate statistical analyses for their research. Statistical
Navigator is available in both a Windows and a DOS version. Statistical
Navigator considers over 200 different types of statistical analyses
and includes hundreds of definitions of statistical terms. In
the Browse Mode users can examine detailed descriptions of each
type of analysis including references and statistical packages
which perform those analyses. Hypertext definitions of terms are
available to help users understand these descriptions. In the
Consult Mode users are asked questions about their research objectives
and assumptions. Based on their answers, the program identifies
the best analyses for their task. The program produces a detailed
description of each recommended analysis along with references,
statistical packages which perform the analyses, and a point-by-point
summary of how the analysis does or does not fit their research
problem. See Idea Works™
for more information.
Ex-Sample computes minimum required sample size for over 60 different
statistical analyses using either power analysis or traditional
procedures at the user's discretion. It also computes the maximum
possible sample size given resources such as time, money and personnel;
and it adjusts for completion factors such as response rates,
contamination rates, and exclusion rates. Compares the required
sample size to maximum feasible size and uses artificial intelligence
reasoning to suggest ways to reduce the required sample size or
increase the feasible sample size. Includes context-sensitive
help and a detailed report. See Idea Works
for pricing information.
Helps select appropriate business, statistical graphs, and maps
from over 100 possible graphical forms. Advises on stylistic issues
for maximum presentation impact. Extensive hypertext descriptions
and definitions. Features include mouse support; color; overlapping
windows; backup, change, & rerun. See Idea Works
for pricing information.
The all-new Windows version of this program helps researchers
design efficient experimental or quasi-experimental designs for
a wide range of problems. The program helps users identify plausible
threats to validity for their problem and suggests strategies
to address those threats. It advises the user when conflicting
strategies are chosen and helps them select a coherent set of
design strategies for the study. It is suitable for the complete
range of research projects. Features include extensive descriptions
of design strategies, a detailed report, and extensive help. See
Idea Works
for more information.
Identifies existing scales for key concepts. Aids in design of
new measures and scales while maximizing validity and reliability.
Avoids common pitfalls in questionnaire development. context sensitive
help; detailed report; built in editor. See Idea Works
for more information.
Provides advice on the appropriate data collection procedure for
a task. See Idea Works
for more information.
A hypertext dictionary of statistical, methodological, and data
graphics terms. Includes 2,000 terms and 4,000 hypertext links
connecting terms. See Idea Works
for pricing information.
Methodologist's Toolchest is the complete package of all of our
expert systems for research offered at a reduced package price.
Together these programs help researchers at almost every stage
of the research design process. See Idea Works
for pricing information.
An expert system to assess the home environment of elderly and
disabled individuals to recommend design changes to make home
more safe, functional and comfortable. Features include context-sensitive
help and a detailed report. See Idea Works
for pricing information.
Contact Information
socbrent@showme.missouri.edu
Department of Sociology, 209 Sociology
Columbia, MO 65203, USA
Voice: (314) 882-9172
FAX: (314) 875-5812
Copyright © 1995, Edward Brent
Idea Works and the program names mentioned above are all trademarks of Idea Works, Inc.
This page is still in progress. Send comments to
socbrent@showme.missouri.edu
