SOCIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS 
Version 2.1.5
copyright 1994-2005 by Jim Spickard

Runs on Windows 9x, NT, XP and offspring.
FREEWARE (see below)			


			SOCIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS
			=====================

I wrote SOCIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS to teach basic statistical analysis to sociology and 
anthropology students.  Unlike commercial packages, it is not particularly powerful 
and does not require advanced mathematical reasoning.  Instead, it focuses on how 
statistics can be used to understand basic social patterns.

The program uses two kinds of data.  First, it allows one to display, compare, and 
analyze social indicators from the 50 U.S. states: demographics, crime rates, poverty 
rates, health figures, and so on.  Many of these figures are recent; others stretch 
back over 50 years.  Second, it allows one to display and analyze questionnaire data 
from the NORC General Social Survey.

Though the program is fun on its own, it is best used along with the one of the sets 
of exercises I have developed for it.  For information about these exercises, please 
write me:

			    Jim Spickard
		   Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
			University of Redlands
		      Redlands, California 92373

    		     software@McGuire-Spickard.com

THE FILES
=========

SOCIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS consists of 8 files, 7 of which are necessary to run the program. 
(You are reading the 8th.) The basic package is:

	Sociological Insights.EXE
	States.NAM
	States Data 2004.dta
	States Data 2004.vrt
	2000 GSS.dta
	2000 GSS.num
	2000.GSS.vru
	README.TXT (this file)

You should unzip all these files to a directory and run the program from there.  If 
the main program file can't find all the files, it will tell you which one(s) are 
missing and will abort.

Feel free to put a shortcut to the .EXE file on your desktop, in your START menu, or 
wherever you wish.

Besides the above files, I have included some extra data files:

	1994 GSS.dta
	1994 GSS.num
	1994.GSS.vru

I shall probably produce more data files in time.  I shall most likely post them at 

		www.mcguire-spickard.com/Software

If anyone wishes to produce data files, write me.  I am willing share my data entry 
routines in exchange for releasing the resulting data files to the public.


AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION
======================

The automatic installation package locates the program and its files (by default) in 
C:\Program Files\Sociological Insights\  (You may change this during the installation 
routine.  It also allows you to add a set of icons to your Start Menu and an shortcut 
on the Windows Desktop.  It does NOT mess with your registry!

The Uninstall routine removes all this, leaving no junk behind.


FREEWARE NOTICE
===============

SOCIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS is copyrighted FREEWARE.  You do not have to pay for it.  You may 
use it as much as you wish.  And you may give it away to others.  I only ask that you 
include all of its constituent files, including this one.

YOU MAY NOT SELL THIS PROGRAM NOR MAY YOU CHARGE MONEY FOR IT IN ANY FORM.  This includes 
"service charges" for repackaging, for disk media, etc.  Free means free means free.


The usual cautions apply, among them the fact that I am not liable for any idiocy you 
commit with this software, nor for any idiocy in which the Windows operating system 
randomly decides to engage.  

Frankly, I can't imagine how this program might break anything, given that it writes 
nothing to disk.  But one never can tell.

Enjoy.

-- js


VERSION INFORMATION
===================

version 2.1.5 (July 2005)

	- changed the information screen for Standardized Cross-Tabs so that 
		it is easier to understand
	- minor display fixes
	- that, plus 6 builds of version 2.1.4, adds up to a new version.

version 2.1.4 (late June 2005)

	- included more information in "Show Statistics" screen (in Map routine)
	- killed some bugs in the code producing the graph on that screen
	- added "Print" function to pop-up graphs
	- fixed display in Standardized Cross-tabs screen
	- fixed display for different screen resolutions on regression screen
	- minor display tweaks on several screens

version 2.1.3 (June 2005)

	- modified Standardized Cross-Tabs entry screen
	- stomped two more bugs
	- made standardized cross-tabs more readable

version 2.1.2 (May 2005)

	- made cross-tab screens more readable
	- corrected chi-square formula for low cell values
	- killed a couple of bugs

version 2.1.1 (May, 2005)

	- simplified menus
	- added ability to use a control variable with T-Tests and ANOVA
	- added ability to compare 2, 3, or 4 maps

version 2.1 (May, 2005):

	- added T-Tests and ANOVA
	- changed a few fonts
	- killed a couple of known bugs

version 2.0 (February, 2005):

	- added standardized cross-tabulations
	- added comparison of four maps
	- added T-Bar screens and other graphs to cross-tabulations
	- allowed running from CD
	- killed known bugs

