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How to Use the Interactive
Web Version of the State Court Guide to Statistical Reporting This Web application is designed to help you more easily navigate through the information contained in the Guide. More importantly, it associates related information components of different types to convey the complete meaning and understanding of the information more quickly than a printed document can. The information components include text sections, statistical reporting matrices, examples to show how the matrices are used, and statistical terms and definitions. Through the power of hyperlinks, JavaScript, server-side scripting, and database interfaces, all of this information is literally at your fingertips as you need it. [Although we would suggest that you approach the Guide in the manner described below, you are certainly invited to explore it in any way you choose. The organization is fairly obvious and you should have no trouble locating what you are interested in after a little familiarization.] Introduction and Background These are simply text subsections that appear in the conventional Guide. We suggest that you first read through them in order, as they will quickly orient you to the Guide and the project and purpose behind it. When you select a link on the main page corresponding to the title of a subsection, the text page will load in the browser window. After reading through it, you can use your "Back" function or select the “Return to Main Page” link at the bottom of the page. Reporting Matrices As in the conventional Guide, the reporting matrices illustrate the statistical information to be reported and its organization and layout. For each of the major case types, in addition to the Caseload Summary Matrix and Manner of Disposition Matrix themselves, there are links to an introductory text page and a page explaining the Unit of Count. These pages behave just as those in the Introduction and Background section do. There also is a link to a reporting example that presents an abbreviated sample matrix with data, together with an explanation of how the categories were determined and calculations made. Finally, there are links to take you to each of the two reporting matrices for that major case type. Term Definitions in Context. As in the conventional Guide, the matrices list the case subtypes on each row down the left column and the reporting categories in the column headings across the page. Unlike the conventional Guide, however, the Web application integrates the definitions for each of these terms in each matrix. The case subtype row labels and the reporting category column headings are also links to their corresponding definitions. When you activate a link, the page that loads pulls the definition of that term from the database and presents the full term name and definition. Just use your "Back Button" to return to the matrix.. Statistical Terms Dictionary The Web application also gives you the ability to work directly with the statistical terms in the database. You can simply display all terms (in alphabetical order) or enter a selection criteria to retrieve only certain terms. Complete information is displayed for each term: the term name, heading (the shortened form that appears on the matrix), definition, major case type for which it is applicable, and the term usage type (e.g., case type/filing type term, Caseload Summary reporting term, or Manner of Disposition reporting term). Term Selection. To retrieve selected terms, you can specify a particular major case type or a particular term usage type, or both, by selecting the appropriate radio button(s). You may also search for terms containing certain keywords or phrases in either the term name or definition—or both, by entering the search text in the appropriate space(s). Each selection specification further narrows the terms that will be retrieved, because they are additive (to be selected for retrieval, a term must meet all of the criteria entered). Searching on Keywords and Phrases. Keywords and phrases are additive as well. For example, if you enter the string of keywords, “children divorce marriage proceeding,” and a term contains the first three words but not “proceeding,” it will not be retrieved. Keep in mind also that if you search for “children” as one of your keywords, terms containing “child” but not “children” will not be retrieved (however, entering “child” will cause a match on both “child” and “children”). With a little experimentation, you should be able to home in quickly on the range of terms you want (there are well over 400 terms in the database). Keyword text is not case sensitive, so you can enter all words in lower case if you wish. Contacting NCSC If you need further help or have questions about the Guide or this Web application, use
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