Chapter 2: Concept of data quality

A recent study in the United States showed (cf. Estabrook, L. /Witt, E./ Rainie, L. (2007). Information searches that solve problems.) that the Internet is the most used source of information when people need help:

Most used information source when people need help

This information is far more valuable if we consider that the World Wide Web is now the largest resource of information. (Muñoz, C./Moraga, A./Piattini, M. (2008). Handbook of Research on Web Information Systems Quality. p.286)

The Internet has then several strengths: the most used information system, the biggest resource of information, it is moreover the most global and accessible one (free and mobile). (Albarran, A.B./Chan-Olmsted,S.M./Wirth,M.O. (2006). Handbook of media management and economics. p471) The issue is how to use it wisely to get quality information.

If we have a look at the perception that Internet users have regarding the quality of information on the Internet we can see that a high percentage of users are considering the data quality issue. Most of them however agree that in general the Internet is a reliable source of information: (Pierce, J. (2008). The World Internet Project.)

How much of the information on the World Wide Web overall is generally reliable?