[Year 12 Its] Primary vs Secondary Data Sources

[Kevork Krozian]

Hi Kevin,

 I agree 100 % and that is how I would try to explain it to the students.
Perhaps our friends in industry can tell us if it is common practice for the technical docs to be written by anyone other than the programmer.

Best Wishes
Kevork

>>> feely.kevin.k at edumail.vic.gov.au 05/20/05 02:15pm >>>
Hi Kevork,
And i thought I was the only one to be at issue with the question below. 
Why?
Well I think we would all accept the error log as a primary source, but 
I cannot answer the second without more information.
So I would have thought part i needed cancelled as it is ambiguous.
If the technical documentation was written by the programmer of the 
software then that would be primary, as it was written by the person 
with direct knowledge, as you said not removed from the system. ie an 
autobiography. However if it was written by a specialist in producing 
technical documents from details supplied by the programmer, or his 
company, or from a range of sources, then it would be secondary - the 
writer not directly involved with the software. ie a biography.

My views but, and obviously at odds somewhere.

regards
Kevin
Wonthaggi Secondary College.

>  Now that we are all semi confused let's see what you would answer to Q2 of the IT Systems 2004 exam as follows:  
>
>    Question 2
>   Identify each of the following data sources as primary or secondary.
>    i. The technical documentation of a software program
>    ii. The error log of an information system
>
> The examiner's report is due in a few weeks I believe !
>
>Best Wishes
>Kevork
>
>  
>
>  
>
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