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Article
Publication date: 1 June 2001

Yitzhak Berman and David Phillips

This paper introduces the concept of ‘social quality’ as a measure of quality‐of‐life and it sets out a framework for identifying social indicators of the relationship between…

888

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of ‘social quality’ as a measure of quality‐of‐life and it sets out a framework for identifying social indicators of the relationship between information and social quality. Social quality has four elements: socio ‐ economic security, social inclusion, social cohesion and empowerment. Illustrative indicators are identified at both national (Demos) and community (Ethnos) level for four different aspects of each social quality element: input, process, outcome and impact. Then the distribution of information and social quality between Demos and Ethnos levels is investigated. It is concluded that usable indicators of all aspects of each element of social quality can be identified and that analysis of informational social quality at Demos and Ethnos level can add to knowledge about information provision and policy, particularly with reference to minority and marginal communities.

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Aslib Proceedings, vol. 53 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0001-253X

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Article
Publication date: 1 February 1996

Yitzhak Berman

Information technology is a facilitator in knowledge diffusion by enabling individuals to communicate directly in personal exchange. This includes interactive communications…

209

Abstract

Information technology is a facilitator in knowledge diffusion by enabling individuals to communicate directly in personal exchange. This includes interactive communications through newsgroups and discussion groups. Two discussion groups were analysed, the Social Work Discussion Group SOCWORK, and ABUSE‐L, a professional forum for child abuse issues. Three types of communication were identified: information transfer, requests for information and discussion of issues. The discussion of issues was the main type of communication in both discussion groups, followed by the request for information and then information transfer. Communications in the discussion groups were dominated by a small number of people. Policy issues were the main topic of discussion in both groups. The control of information technology by academics appears to limit the participation of social work practitioners in determining the agenda of the discussion group or the contents of the communications. Social worker practitioners have not increased their access to information even though the technology to make it accessible exists.

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Aslib Proceedings, vol. 48 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0001-253X

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Article
Publication date: 1 September 1994

Yitzhak Berman and A. Solomon Eaglstein

The knowledge base of the social work profession was studied. Previous research has generally taken into account only citations from social work journals. In this paper a broader…

201

Abstract

The knowledge base of the social work profession was studied. Previous research has generally taken into account only citations from social work journals. In this paper a broader view was taken. Consequently in order to determine the sources of knowledge in American and non‐American journals, citations from four sources for the year 1992 were counted and analysed: social work journals, journals from other fields, books and grey literature. The most frequent citation source was books, followed by non‐social workjournals, grey documentation and finally by social workjournals. Differential use of the four sources by American and British journals was noted and discussed in terms of structural and ideological restraints extant in the two countries.

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Aslib Proceedings, vol. 46 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0001-253X

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Article
Publication date: 1 January 1990

A. Solomon Eaglstein and Yitzhak Berman

In 1966, Clive Bingley described a blurb: A good blurb has a beginning, a middle and an end, a light style and a definite point to make about the content or purpose of the book…

355

Abstract

In 1966, Clive Bingley described a blurb: A good blurb has a beginning, a middle and an end, a light style and a definite point to make about the content or purpose of the book, as well as an expression of the publisher's own confidence in its merits. This definition specifies that a good blurb contains at least the elements of book praise and book subject matter. Based upon Bingley's definition wide‐ranging and indepth analysis were carried out both within the blurbs of one book and between several books. The sample of books selected for the study were drawn from the fields of sociology, education and psychology and were analysed by the four elements of an analytical framework. Element one of the framework concerned the presence or absence of praise or subject matter in a blurb. Element two dealt with the substantive categories of these two variables. Element three related to a set of other blurb descriptors. Element four consisted of an additional set of variables describing the books of the sample. Combination of simple marginal and cross‐tabulational analysis with appropriate parametric and non‐parametric statistical methods were applied for analysing each element and the relationship of all four elements. The most salient finding was that the Bingley definition proved to serve as a valuable heuristic tool for blurbology, i.e. the scientific study of the blurb. Operationally this meant that no blurbs were found that lacked information concerning praise and subject matter. Further, it was found that praise was a ubiquitous phenomenon. It appeared in over 95% of the blurbs and was consistently high both within and between books. On the other hand, the appearance of other blurb content and descriptor variables was less frequent and more diffuse. There was no evidence of any systematic relationship between book descriptor variables and blurb content. Suggestions for objective and independent research testing blurb selling power were submitted.

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Aslib Proceedings, vol. 42 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0001-253X

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