Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
analysis software. See also Friese, 2006; Hardy, 2009; Lewins & Silver, 2007;
and O'Reilly, 2005.)
Many powerful and flexible systems are available for those willing to learn to
use them. A significant learning curve, however, is still required to use most of
them. As a rule of thumb, remember that it does not require a sledgehammer to
drive a nail. The simplest and most appropriate program should be selected to
complete a given task. The selection of database software should be based on the
research task or purpose and ease of use. Whereas most programs enable ethnog-
raphers to sort and compare data, other programs facilitate both simple sorts and
comparisons and theory generation. Useful database software must be capable of
manipulating long field notes and verbatim quotations. Most databases have lim-
ited and static fields. The most useful qualitative software allows the ethnogra-
pher to modify the coding system during analysis, change the boundaries of text
segments after the initial period of data entry, and overlap coded segments.
Database programs have complemented traditional fieldwork practices in
several of my studies. In one study of a health and safety department, at a
Department of Energy (DOE) Linear Accelerator facility, a database was
indispensable. I entered the departmental (optically scanned hard copy) acci-
dent records and conventional information, such as time, date, person, and
place, into a database. I also entered the type of accident, using the depart-
ment's system for recording accidents by body part. I also read descriptions of
what happened in each case and entered my own classification for each acci-
dent according to the behavior associated with the event. For example, I
entered a strained back resulting from lifting as a lifting accident in the data-
base. I did not find any significant pattern of accidents from records based on
body parts. When I tested the database by looking for patterns based on behav-
iors associated with accidents, however, a number of clear patterns emerged,
including accidents associated with lifting, cutting, moving, and carrying. In
addition, the sorting process identified highly accident-prone individuals and
indicated improperly designed workstations. This process took the computer a
few moments; it would have taken me weeks to sort and re-sort by hand, an
amount of time my budget did not allow. The database provided useful con-
ventional information, such as accident type, frequency during a 10-year
period, victim, behavior, and location for the most serious injuries. The data-
base also led to new, more useful ways to conceptualize and record accidents
that enable department personnel to focus their safety training dollars more
effectively on the right target populations, including repeaters. Health and
safety officials designed new educational programs to address identifiable
behaviors most often associated with accidents and redesigned dangerous
workstations. Sharing this type of information in a nonthreatening context also
strengthened my relationship with facility personnel.
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