Dear Aoir's - I include this citation, the metastudy I mentioned because there seemed to be some interest in the topic: Klein, B. D. (2001). "User perceptions of data quality: Internet and traditional text sources." Journal of Computer Information Systems Summer(2001): 9-15. She has summarized in this paper an analysis of "fifteen dimensions of data quality." However, I don't see the real problems coming forth in this discussion - 1) user perceptions of quality - but what's that - users could have some cr*p idea of what is quality; yet the website (information source) in question serves their needs 2) problems of validating and securing "real" online information - credit card no's, etc. as mentioned here vs. 3) search engine algorithms & data mining techniques to ensure that what users request is what the SE delivers - BUT - if users ask an uninformed question - are there checks and balances? 4) ensuring that web-based data falls into the same types of rigorous enquiry as information from other sources. 5) testing of the hypothesis - is this good data or not? that seems to escape most users as an important part of the process . . . . Denise ===== "it's easier to use your mouse than your brain" Denise Rall, Sustainable Forestry Mentoring Coordinator & PhD student, School of Education, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480 Australia Phone +61-2-6624-8627 Fax +61-2-6624-8637 Office (Tuesdays) (02) 6620 3577 Mob 0438 233 344 http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/edu/research/deniserall/index.html __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com