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UFO UpDates Mailing List

From: Ed Stewart <egs@NETCOM.COM>
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 16:33:36 -0700
Fwd Date: Sun, 02 Aug 1998 22:30:58 -0400
Subject: P-1947: Re: UFOCAT

Hello Jan and List Members,

Jan Aldrich wrote:

> Further to Ed Stewart's comments, the UFOCAT contains the
> whole Project Blue Book files introducing IFOs in great
> number.

That is not a problem. It is easy to filter out the Project Blue
Book entries when building up a query.

>My experience using 1900-1947 print out is that there are
>significant non-UFO items present. "Dark Days," "Aerial
>explositions or sounds," most of Wilkins' silly not UFO
>events.

Using a complete printout of a database is not the usual method
to look at the data contained in a database. One can properly
filter out any alleged improper data so the results reflect what
one is searching for. Deleting Blue Book and/or Wilkins from the
results is a function of the database query one builds. Any good
relational database will provide one with all the flexibility
one desires and maintaining the integrity of the original data.
Just in case Wilkins in desirable for some other query. (GRIN)

>In 1947 the entry for Arnold's sighting appears many times.
>However, it was also encoded for June 1947, Summer 1947 and
>1947 in several entries. These duplications/incomplete designations
>also skew the results somewhat.

Again, it is a function of the query. Knowing the shortcomings of
UFOCAT allows someone with enough of a sophisticated query system
(usually available in your better relational databases) to come up with
more meaningful results. Of course, if one's program only allows one to
print out the entire set of records, then maybe one should upgrade to a
better database program.

>Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Dr. Johnson told me
>that at different times there were different priorities concerning
>cases which were added to the UFOCAT. At one time only CE cases
>added recorded. So there are internal selection effects, besides
>all the regular problems posed by UFO data.

That is something we are all at the mercy of. I am presently
working on databasing the Newsclipping Service (Dyke and
Farish). How good will it be when finished? Only as good as
whatever the selection prejudices of Dyke and Farish were in
selecting what when in the service and what stayed out.
Greenwood tells me that at times there were at least 10X the
clippings available, but the service printed only a select
number of pages most of the time.

>The portion I have used is still of great value and has helped
>locate further information on known sightings and in finding new
>incidents.

That is the key. UFOCAT exists containing over 100,000 records.
It would be foolish not to use it. Any serious user just needs
to be aware of the caveats.

Ed Stewart
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ed Stewart egs@netcom.com | So Man, who here seems principal alone,
There is Something        | Perhaps acts second to some sphere unknown.
  Going On!       ,>'?'<, | Touches some wheel, or verges to some goal,
Salvador Freixedo ( O O ) | 'Tis but a part we see, and not a whole.
--------------ooOO-(_)-OOoo------- Alexander Pope, Essay on Man -------