A conceptual framework and belief-function approach to assessing overall information quality

We develop an information quality model based on a user-centric view adapted from Financial 2 Accounting Standards Board,(1) Wang et al.,(2) and Wang And Strong.(3) The model consists of four essential attributes (or assertions): accessibility, interpretability, relevance, and integrity. Four subattributes lead to an evaluation of integrity: accuracy, completeness, consistency, and existence. These subattributes relating to integrity are intrinsic in nature and relate to the process of how the information was created and the first three attributes: (accessibility, interpretability, and relevance) are extrinsic in nature. We present our model as an evidential network under the belief-function framework to permit user assessment of quality parameters. Two algorithms for combining assessments into an overall IQ measure are explored, and examples in the domain of medical information are used to illustrate key concepts. We discuss two scenarios, online user and assurance provider, which reflect two likely and important aspects of IQ evaluation currently facing information users-concerns about the impact of poor quality,online information and the need for IQ assurance. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.