Information Quality Measures Research Articles

How Well Does the Internet Answer Patients’ Questions about Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

the Internet is an increasingly important source of health information. to assess how well common websites answered patients' questions regarding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). thirty websites were identified and evaluated. Based on a previous survey of patient information needs, a comprehensive question list was developed in the three following areas: medical information (seven items), medical treatment (six items) and selfmanagement (eight items). The websites were evaluated for the amount of information they provided to answer each question using two standard measures of information quality - the DISCERN and the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients scales. four particularly strong websites, scoring highest (on a scale from 1 to 5) in terms of IBD information, were the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (mean information score 4.3), About.com (4.2), HealthCentral (3.8) and WebMD (3.8). These websites also scored well on the DISCERN and the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients quality scales. Most websites provided at least adequate information on common symptoms, complications, treatments and what is known (or not known) about the causes of IBD. However, many websites did not provide adequate information about prognosis, possible side effects of treatment and risks of developing cancer. Information regarding self-management was covered to a very limited extent. websites could be strengthened by providing more of the information patients deem to be important, and by more clearly identifying sources of information and the date the information was updated. Most websites would benefit from more attention given to reducing the reading level and improving the organization of material.

The Use of the R2 as a Measure of Firm‐Specific Information: A Cross‐Country Critique

Abstract: Recent research uses the degree of stock returns co‐movement as a measure of the quality of a country's information environment. It has been argued that stronger property rights, better corporate governance regimes and more efficient enforcement mechanisms lead to prices incorporating more firm‐specific information and, therefore, co‐moving less with the market. In this paper, we use a much more comprehensive international data set than in prior research, encompassing forty countries over twenty years, to evaluate the reliability of this approach in a cross‐country setting and to analyse the behaviour of the measure used. Our results demonstrate severe limitations in the use of co‐movement as a measure of information quality. We highlight the instability of the measure and show that it can produce results that are often difficult to reconcile with such an informational explanation.

An empirical investigation of factors affecting ubiquitous computing use and U-business value

This research investigates the factors that influence the use of ubiquitous computing and U-business value. It considers system, information and service qualities as the major factors affecting the use of ubiquitous computing. System quality is measured by accessibility, stability and ease of use. Relevance, accuracy and timeliness are used to measure information quality. Reliability, quickness and secrecy are used to measure service quality. U-business value measures the value created from business operations, business processes, and customer relationships improved by the use of ubiquitous computing. Our results show that system accessibility, information accuracy and timeliness, and service quickness exert crucial influences on ubiquitous computing use. We also find that the use of ubiquitous computing creates value by enhancing business operations, business processes, and customer satisfaction. These findings suggest that information quality is relatively more important than system and service qualities for the creation of value in a ubiquitous computing environment. Our research model and empirical results provide valuable indicators for the direction of future research and also suggest managerial guidelines for the successful development and adoption of ubiquitous computing within an organization.

M1174 Smoking Does Not Influence the Response to Azathioprine in Steroid-Dependent Inflammatory Bowel Disease

G A A b st ra ct s benefited from shorter sentences. Most indicated the date the material was produced but only half indicated who had produced the materials. 3 especially strong websites with the highest total IBD information ratings in terms of answering patient questions: WebMD (total information score 102 of a possible 135), HealingWell (94), and MedicineNet (87). This total information rating was highly correlated with 2 widely used information quality measures: the DISCERN (r=.78) and the EQIP (r=.52). These websites are excellent sources of accurate information about IBD with answers to many questions receiving high ratings.

Differential effect of first versus second concussive episodes on wavelet information quality of EEG.

Recent reports have suggested that long-term residual brain dysfunctions from mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) that are often overlooked by clinical criteria may be detected using advanced research methods. The aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility of EEG wavelet information quality measures (EEG-IQ) in monitoring alterations of brain functions as well as to determine the differential rate of recovery between the first and second concussive episodes. Student-athletes at high risk for MTBI (n=265) were tested prior to concussive episodes as a baseline. From this subject pool, twenty one athletes who suffered from two concussive episodes within one athletic season and were tested on days 7, 14 and 21 post-first and second injuries using a within-subjects design. Specifically, EEG was recorded and processed using wavelet entropy (EEG-IQ) algorithm along with a battery of neuropsychological (NS) tests. Spatial distribution of EEG-IQ and its dynamics in conjunction with NS data were analyzed prior to and after MTBI. No neuropsychological deficits were present in concussed subjects beyond 7 days post-injury after first and second concussions. However, EEG-IQ measures were significantly reduced primarily at temporal, parietal and the occipital regions (ROIs) after first and especially after second MTBI (p<0.01) beyond 7 days post-injury. Rate of recovery of EEG-IQ measures was significantly slower after second MTBI compared to those after the first concussion (p<0.01). EEG-IQ measures may reveal alterations in the brain of concussed individuals that are most often overlooked by current assessment tools. In this regard, EEG-IQ may potentially be a valuable tool for assessing and monitoring residual brain dysfunction in "asymptomatic" MTBI subjects. The results demonstrate the potential utility of EEG-IQ measures to classify concussed individuals at various stages of recovery.

Examining the dimensionality and measurement of user-perceived knowledge and information quality in the KMS context

While several knowledge management systems' (KMS) success measures have been developed in previous studies, most of them focus on the measurement of knowledge use and performance of KMS. Little research has been conducted to develop specific instruments for measuring KMS success from the perspective of KMS knowledge production. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop an instrument for measuring user-perceived knowledge and information quality (KIQ) of KMS from the side of knowledge production. In this study, the characteristics of KMS were firstly analysed, and previous instruments for measuring information quality and KMS success then reviewed. Finally, an instrument for measuring the construct of KIQ in the KMS context was developed and validated in terms of its psychometric properties. The proposed instrument will be of value to researchers and practitioners interested in designing, implementing, researching, and managing KMS.

Information Quality Measurement as a Feedback for the Systems Development Lifecycle(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Information Quality)

Information Quality Measurement as a Feedback for the Systems Development Lifecycle(&lt;Special Issue&gt;Information Quality)

Information quality as a mirror of government excellence

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain current processes which are part of the eGovernment agenda in Dutch governmental organizations: these processes are part of a transformation of government organizations and municipalities towards networked organizations (“infocracies”). The paper also aims to show which difficulties municipalities are faced with, and how an instrument for measuring information quality and management can help municipalities cope with these developments that come with the transformation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses current developments and the challenges that government organizations are confronted with, and shows how a measurement instrument can contribute in helping government organizations cope with these developments.FindingsThe findings show that IT is an enabler for government organizations to transform towards networked organizations. In a municipal setting, this has led to the creation of authentic registrations as a crucial element of the networked organization. The main challenges for municipalities with regard to the implementation of authentic registrations are not technical but organizational of nature: there is a need for information sharing and cooperation, process and chain orientation and an awareness of the interdependencies which are inherent to authentic registrations. The EGEM Thermometer makes the challenges and obstacles, which obstruct the successful implementation of authentic registrations visible, and provides municipalities with a base to start the implementation thereof.Research limitations/implicationsThe Thermometer is currently based on a pilot project and a project that was the start of the Thermometer, which is made up of six municipalities.Practical implicationsThe use of the EGEM Thermometer helps municipalities by creating insight, awareness, sense‐of‐urgency and a basis for organizational development.Originality/value of paperThe paper illustrates how measurement and feedback sessions can help organizations cope with IT challenges in relation to cooperation, service delivery, enforcement and information management.

The impact of information technology on individual and firm marketing performance

The perceived impacts of information technology use on firm marketing organization performance are examined. A theoretical model is presented linking organizational and end-user traits, information quality, system/service quality, industry traits, and tasks performed using a system to perceptions of organizational performance impacts through ease of system use, perceived individual performance impacts (i.e. perceived usefulness), attitudes toward using the system, and system use. The empirical examination uses a mail survey of US marketing executives to collect the data. The quantitative technique used is structural equation modeling. The results indicate that measures of organizational traits, individual traits, information quality, system/service quality, and tasks performed using the system impact perceived performance of the marketing organization mediated individual performance impacts (i.e. perceived usefulness), attitudes toward using the system, and system use. Managerial implications and conclusions are presented based upon these results.

In this issue

In this issue

Changes in Analysts’ Information Environment Following Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Global Settlement

This paper examines how governance and regulatory reforms surrounding the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002 and the Global Settlement (GS) affect the analysts’ information environment, specifically the quality of financial analysts’ common and private information. Our information quality measures are based on characteristics of financial analyst forecasts as developed in Barron, Kim, Lim and Stevens (1998). We find that the passage of SOX and the concurrent analyst regulations are associated with a temporary increase in the quality of common information upon their adoption, but the increase is not maintained. By one year after the introduction of the reforms both common and private information quality decline and continue to stay below their pre-SOX/GS levels. This decline is clearly seen in firms with high information quality prior to the reforms, but firms with moderate or low prior information quality experience little if any improvement. These results suggest that overall, financial analysts have not experienced an increase in their information quality as measured by the characteristics of their forecasts.

A framework for information quality assessment

AbstractOne cannot manage information quality (IQ) without first being able to measure it meaningfully and establishing a causal connection between the source of IQ change, the IQ problem types, the types of activities affected, and their implications. In this article we propose a general IQ assessment framework. In contrast to context‐specific IQ assessment models, which usually focus on a few variables determined by local needs, our framework consists of comprehensive typologies of IQ problems, related activities, and a taxonomy of IQ dimensions organized in a systematic way based on sound theories and practices. The framework can be used as a knowledge resource and as a guide for developing IQ measurement models for many different settings. The framework was validated and refined by developing specific IQ measurement models for two large‐scale collections of two large classes of information objects: Simple Dublin Core records and online encyclopedia articles.

Business Information Quality and its Assessment

Topical problems of modern business are: how to cull right information from its abundance, how to decide which information is valuable and which one is useless, finally, how to assess the quality of the usable informa-tion. These problems are relevant and important both globally and locally in Lithuanian business. This paper highlights information quality (IQ) management and assessment peculiarities, reveals the importance of IQ in the modern business. The authors present IQ dimensions that are essen-tial to Lithuanian and foreign business information con-sumers because effective IQ assessment and manage-ment depend upon right evaluation of these IQ dimen-sions. The authors of this paper also evaluated informa-tion maturity levels of Lithuanian business organiza-tions and revealed their attitudes towards the informa-tion. This information maturity was assessed according to IBM Corporation proposed Information Maturity Model. In reference to the accomplished research, authors of this paper identify the crucial problems that influence business IQ and also highlight these root problems: absence of proper technologies, poor information tech-nologies (IT), inappropriate software, difficulties to discover reasons for IQ errors, insufficient information security, lack of time to ensure IQ, lack of reliable in-formation sources, poor knowledge of business informa-tion consumer (employee). The findings revealed that the main business IQ assurance problem is influenced simply by the lack of time. To draw a conclusion, to ensure IQ, information must be presented and produced in accordance with clearly defined IQ dimensions, just like other products (services and goods) are supplied and evaluated ac-cording to specific quality characteristics. Conse-quently, the identification of IQ dimensions that are the most important to information consumers, and the esti-mation of IQ measurement criteria and its methodology are the basis for the better information product’s qual-ity assessment. To assure quality information in the organizations the authors of this paper propose: to adapt IQ Man-agement Model that might service like one of the tools for solving IQ assurance problems, to define and choose right business IQ dimensions, and change organiza-tional attitude towards the value of information.

Experimento para análise da implantação da medição da qualidade da informação

Recentemente, a quantidade de dados disponíveis nas mais diversas fontes tem aumentado consideravelmente. Com muita informação disponível, a medição da qualidade se torna uma forma de classificar e identificar as informações que podem atender melhor aos interesses e necessidades dos usuários. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é estudar a relação existente entre o esforço necessário para a implantação da medição da qualidade da informação (QI) e o resultado obtido com isso. Será proposta uma metodologia para medição da QI e descrito um experimento onde foram realizadas as implantações necessárias para a medição da QI e analisado o resultado percebido pelos participantes. A conclusão obtida é de que os participantes acharam importante a medição da QI e seus resultados, porém não foi encontrada correlação entre o esforço necessário para a implantação da medição da QI e os resultados obtidos.

Information quality factors affecting innovation process

This research aims to identify the information quality (IQ) dimensions and measures affecting the innovation management process. The research employs case study methodology and uses an information quality technique knows as Information Function Deployment (IFD). The selected case is an organisation dealing with the design and manufacture of electronic equipment and tools used for medical testing. This research identifies four IQ dimensions and six IQ measures affecting the innovation management process. The identified IQ dimensions are timeliness, interpretability, coherency and completeness while the IQ measures are information sensing, information collecting, information processing, information organising, information integrity and information sharing.

Measuring information quality in the order fulfilment process

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for measuring information quality in the order fulfilment process.Design/methodology/approachMeasurement scales are developed out of the practical information needs and a theory review. A state‐of‐the‐art description and further scale development are based on a survey of the most important suppliers of 136 Swedish companies.FindingsThe paper finds that information quality can be measured with variables as in time, accurate, convenient to access and reliable. The scales were found to possess unidimensionality, validity and reliability.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this paper are mainly theoretical, providing a foundation for further empirical research.Practical implicationsEven though established customer‐supplier relations were studied, information quality deficiencies were found on all variables. This is an indication of improvement possibilities.Originality/valueThere is a lack of research on measuring the information quality construct, which might be the reason for little empirical research on the impact of information quality on logistics performance.

Information quality of environmental and chemical databases exemplified by high production volume chemicals and pharmaceuticals

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to establish that data on chemicals detected in the environment are urgently needed to comply with the future environment and chemicals policy in the European Union. The availability of data on chemicals can be evaluated by environmetrical and chemometrical methods.Design/methodology/approachThe Hasse Diagram Technique (HDT) which originated in discrete mathematics is applied in this paper. It is a multi‐criteria evaluation method which can be used to measure information quality and is therefore also applicable for decision making. The study evaluated 15 environmental and chemical free internet databases with respect to the existence of data on chemicals in these resources. Two test‐sets were used first, 12 high production volume chemicals and, second 12 pharmaceuticals which are proven to enter the environment in considerable concentrations.FindingsThe evaluation indicates a rather disturbing situation in the data availability on existing chemicals, an especially bad result concerning the data availability on pharmaceuticals and hence an alarming signal concerning the chemicals policy of the EEC.Originality/valueThe information gap, especially for pharmaceuticals entering the environment, is demonstrated with a mathematically recognised method. The Hasse Diagram Technique can be applied to different questions in science when several objects are to be ranked by several criteria at the same time. Concerning the topic of the data availability on chemicals, the gaps are identified and should inspire future research to generate new and valuable data.

Flow Turbulence And Information Quality

A crucial aspect of managing the corporate information resource is the ability to assess and maintain information quality. This paper proposes criteria for defining and measuring information quality based on established parameters of information flow. We develop a conceptual model linking information flow metrics and information qualities. The basic premise of the model is that changes in flow metrics affect the usefulness criteria of information, which in turn impact information quality. The usefulness criteria of information are based on established accounting standards. This mapping of flow metrics to information quality is a necessary and critical step towards the development of a robust instrument for quality assessment. The implications of the proposed model for managing information flows resulting from business processes are discussed. "The ability to streamline the structure and to influence and control the flow of information is dramatically more powerful and cost effective than moving and manufacturing physical products. Changing the flow of information requires companies to change not just the product mix, but perhaps more important, the business ecosystem in which they compete. Unless an enterprise develops an explicit strategy to accommodate the accelerated flow of information, the enterprise will find itself scrambling, working harder and faster to stay afloat." (Kalakota and Robinson 1999 p. 6).

AIMQ: a methodology for information quality assessment

Information quality (IQ) is critical in organizations. Yet, despite a decade of active research and practice, the field lacks comprehensive methodologies for its assessment and improvement. Here, we develop such a methodology, which we call AIM quality (AIMQ) to form a basis for IQ assessment and benchmarking. The methodology is illustrated through its application to five major organizations. The methodology encompasses a model of IQ, a questionnaire to measure IQ, and analysis techniques for interpreting the IQ measures. We develop and validate the questionnaire and use it to collect data on the status of organizational IQ. These data are used to assess and benchmark IQ for four quadrants of the model. These analysis techniques are applied to analyze the gap between an organization and best practices. They are also applied to analyze gaps between IS professionals and information consumers. The results of the techniques are useful for determining the best area for IQ improvement activities.

Does the measure of information quality influence survival bias?

Examines certain issues related to application of total quality management to the information systems setting, in particular to the measurement of output quality. Data produced by a system are often transformed for decision making by end users. Although ensuring the quality of the data can be achieved, it is difficult to control for all the inferences made by end users. Using a financial reports database as an example, demonstrates how the choice of measure of information quality can sometimes bias the survival time of firms in the sample. The analysis uses the Cox proportional hazards model to demonstrate that when immaterial data errors are present after firms have incurred a loss, sometimes they increase their survival chances. Such consequences are valid in other settings as well and demonstrate that defining and measuring the quality of information systems needs more considerations than is generally assumed.