I have a script for updating a database table. I need to return a JSON array and to update some tables with JQUERY.

my php script:

$update = mysql_query("UPDATE PLD_SEARCHES SET STATUS = 1, TOTAL_RESULTS = ".$scrapper->getTotalResults().",RESULTS = $resultCounter WHERE ID = ".$searchId);
$output = array("status"=>"COMPLETED","results"=>$resultCounter,"totalResults"=>$scrapper->getTotalResults());
echo json_encode($output);

$("button").live("click", function(event){
event.preventDefault();
$.getJSON("startsearch.php",{ searchId: $(this).val() }, function(data){
alert(data[0].status);
});

now ...the problem is that if i use $.post("startsearch.php",{ searchId: $(this).val() }, function(data)) the script gets executed and i get a nice alert with value undefined. if i add the parameter "json" the script doesn't get executed anymore. With getJSON i don't get any execution at all.