Elmer:About
From Elmer Social Science Resource Center
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Elmer is a quality social science dictionary, a portal for finding social science information online, and a virtual space for the social science community to meet.
Elmer's Dictionary strives to be
Free
The information provided on these pages is free to all to facilitate the access to quality social science information to all with access to the internet.
Multidisciplinary
Social science terms can have different meanings according to the discipline in which it is being defined or the subject matter it relates to. This dictionary intends to cover the multiplicity of these definitins and analyse how the term has evolved across disciplines.
Multilingual
While most information online, particularly relating to the social sciences, is in English, this dictionary attempts to remedy this limitation.
Comprehensive
A social science definition requires different theoretical points of view to be defined according to different World Views. There is no one definition to a social science term, but rather approximations that each contribute another kernel of truth. Ideology, for example, means one thing for a Realist and another to a Marxism. Even a difference across authors can be huge.
Properly referenced
Longer, in-depth definitions will be properly referenced to ensure their quality.
Temporal
In ideal situations definitions are best understood when placed in historical perspective tracing the evolving nature of a term. The historical context of words like sabotage or the evolving practical and theoretical understandings of identity requires tracing the evolution of a concept throughout time. This does not currently exist.
Dynamic and User Defined
With the advent of Wiki and other Web 2.0 technologies, participation alllows for various levels of information that students and professors of the social sciences can use as well latmen.
Past
Elmer has been a long time personal project of Martin M. Elissetche that has now is an on-going project of the Elissetche Foundation.
Birth:1998
Elmer, or The Social Science Resource Center, was an idea I came up with while completing my Bachelor's at Tulane University. At the time there were almost no social science-related dictionaries or resources centers on the net. The site was called the Social Science Dictionary Project and was intended to be an interactive dictionary that would build on a pre-existing incomplete dictionary with entries submitted by social science students or teachers.
Relative Failure
The site never got any submissions, and therefore was put on hold for quite a while when I reached 1,000 terms. Meanwhile, social science resources pages began to blossom all over the Internet. Every so often, when my job and/or studies permitted, I added additional definitions to the dictionary. There wasn't much growth at that point, but I went from getting 200 visits a year to 200 visits a day in five years.
2006
A couple years after Web 2.0 tools were developed, I started to get acquainted with them enough to migrate all the information I had originally put in HTML at www.elissetche.org into Wiki format. It's hard to believe it took 10 years to develop tools I dreamed of as I typed all my notes from my little handheld 50 definition dictionary to my first Tulane hosted web page. I still have a copy of my first site posted on Geocities HERE!
Present
What you see is what it is.
Future Objectives
Elmer will be undergoing extensive while progressive changes. Most changes will require increased outside participation, hopefully turning what is now a personal endeavor into an institutionalized collaborative effort. Others won't.
Objective:
- To create a self-sustained and perpetual web site based on the collaborative work of social scientists.
- The web site will house a dictionary, eClasses, eTexts, Book Reviews, dynamic social networking tools for its users, and all other information deemed of interest by its community.
- The web site will, in time, be handed to the network of editors that will contribute to the site, making it a product by and for its users.
- Financial support will continue to be provided by the Elissetche Foundation until Elmer can pay for his own way! This site will continue to be free to users for the next 10 years+ of existence.
Components:
001: KOSMOS Create a NGO to help fund this site by 01/01/2007. DONE.
002: CODA Completing and expanding the Dictionary content by
003: LOGOS Translating the Web Site into other languages by
004: BIBLIOS Creating and acquiring eTexts and eClasses by
005: POYEN Incorporate Dynamic Social Networking tools by
Each project has its own timetable, procedures, and participants. To learn more about each or how you can participate in one, please visit each one's individual information page, download a project proposal in PDF format, or send us an email.
Awards
I actually haven't received any so far. However if I do, this is were they will be found!
