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1 – 10 of over 23000Mahdi Zahedi Nooghabi and Akram Fathian Dastgerdi
One of the most important categories in linked open data (LOD) quality models is “data accessibility.” The purpose of this paper is to propose some metrics and indicators for…
Abstract
Purpose
One of the most important categories in linked open data (LOD) quality models is “data accessibility.” The purpose of this paper is to propose some metrics and indicators for assessing data accessibility in LOD and the semantic web context.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, at first the authors consider some data quality and LOD quality models to review proposed subcategories for data accessibility dimension in related texts. Then, based on goal question metric (GQM) approach, the authors specify the project goals, main issues and some questions. Finally, the authors propose some metrics for assessing the data accessibility in the context of the semantic web.
Findings
Based on GQM approach, the authors determined three main issues for data accessibility, including data availability, data performance, and data security policy. Then the authors created four main questions related to these issues. As a conclusion, the authors proposed 27 metrics for measuring these questions.
Originality/value
Nowadays, one of the main challenges regarding data quality is the lack of agreement on widespread quality metrics and practical instruments for evaluating quality. Accessibility is an important aspect of data quality. However, few researches have been done to provide metrics and indicators for assessing data accessibility in the context of the semantic web. So, in this research, the authors consider the data accessibility dimension and propose a comparatively comprehensive set of metrics.
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Daramola Thompson Olapade and Abel Olaleye
With a focus on Lagos property market, the purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence accessibility to data for valuation and investment analysis in Nigeria…
Abstract
Purpose
With a focus on Lagos property market, the purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence accessibility to data for valuation and investment analysis in Nigeria. This was with a view to improving accessibility to property data in the market, thereby enhancing investment appraisal practice.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data utilized for the study were sourced through the use of questionnaire administered on property practitioners (referred to as estate surveying and valuation (ESV) firms) in Lagos property market. A total of 190 ESV firms were selected using stratified random sampling based on their geographical location. Relative significance index (RSI), frequency distribution and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed for data analysis.
Findings
A total of 19 factors were identified as affecting accessibility to data. Confidentiality attached to property data by practitioners was ranked as the most significant factor with RSI of 0.81. The next three factors were lack of cooperation within members of professional body (0.79), accuracy of data (0.76) and duty of care to client (0.75), while the least ranked factor was duplication of data set (0.63). All the 19 variables were further grouped into six principal factors using PCA, namely, economic, attitudinal, ethical, legal, administrative and technical factors; with each factor explaining the following variance, 16.75, 16.1, 13.64, 12.78, 10.51 and 7.95, respectively.
Practical implications
The paper’s results will enable stakeholders to address the challenges to data accessibility in Lagos property market and similar opaque markets elsewhere thereby enhancing property data accessibility and investment analysis.
Originality/value
The paper is an attempt to examine the factors affecting accessibility to data identified in different studies holistically together in a single study and from the perspective of an emerging property market like Nigeria.
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Alan K. Styles and Mack Tennyson
In recent years accounting standard setters and professional bodies have issued directives aimed at improving the transparency and accessibility of financial reports compiled by…
Abstract
In recent years accounting standard setters and professional bodies have issued directives aimed at improving the transparency and accessibility of financial reports compiled by government agencies. This study examines the availability and accessibility of local government financial reports on the Internet for a sample of 300 U.S. municipalities of varying size. Results indicate that provision of financial reports is more prominent among larger cities. Cities with higher income per capita and higher levels of accounting disclosure are also more likely to provide financial reports on the Internet. The accessibility of the financial data reported on the Internet is positively related to the number of residents, resident income per capita, and level of debt and financial position of the municipality.
Dave Comeaux and Axel Schmetzke
The purpose of this paper is to present longitudinal data on the accessibility of 56 North American academic library web sites, as well as insights into the connection between…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present longitudinal data on the accessibility of 56 North American academic library web sites, as well as insights into the connection between accessibility and certain design methods and technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
Bobby 3.1.1 was used to evaluate compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. Also studied were the main method of page layout (CSS versus HTML tables), whether a content management system was used, and whether skip‐navigation links were employed.
Findings
The percentage of Bobby‐approved pages has remained consistent around 60 per cent in 2010 and 2012. However, the percentage of errors per page, a metric more sensitive to the pervasiveness of accessibility barriers, has steadily and significantly decreased. Sites whose layouts are built with cascading style sheets have fewer errors per page than those that use tables for layout. Sites that use a CMS have considerably higher percentages of approved pages and fewer errors per page than sites that are not built with a CMS.
Research limitations/implications
The principal tool used, Bobby 3.1.1, is capable of detecting only a subset of accessible design principles. Future studies should examine compliance with the newer WCAG 2.0 guidelines.
Practical implications
The use of a content management system may have a positive impact on accessibility. While this study reveals some promising trends, more education and continued advocacy is needed to increase web accessibility at libraries.
Originality/value
This is the only study that provides up‐to‐date trend information about the accessibility of a broader set of academic library web sites (a set not limited to one state) over an extended time period. It is also the only accessibility study comparing academic library web sites that use a content management system to those that do not.
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David Comeaux and Axel Schmetzke
Only properly designed web sites are accessible to people with print disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to follow up on earlier investigations of this kind by looking at…
Abstract
Purpose
Only properly designed web sites are accessible to people with print disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to follow up on earlier investigations of this kind by looking at the web sites of all 56 ALA‐accredited library schools, and of the libraries on these campuses.
Design/methodology/approach
Bobby 3.1.1 was used to evaluate compliance with major accessible web design guidelines. In addition, key web pages were checked manually for the presence of skip‐navigation components, and the sites' re‐design status was ascertained. The results were presented in the form of basic descriptive statistics, including percentages of Bobby‐approved pages and the average number of barriers per page. Correlations of the current accessibility data with older data sets and with library school ratings were also calculated.
Findings
The results indicate that despite an increase in accessibility, only 50 to 60 per cent of the web sites were free of Bobby‐detectable errors. Canadian sites were more accessible than US sites. Contrary to previous findings, recently redesigned sites tended to be more accessible. Highly ranked sites also tended to have higher accessibility scores. US sites showed a random‐like up‐and‐down movement in accessibility status between 2002 and 2006.
Research limitations/implications
The collected data reflect compliance with only a subset of accessible design principles.
Practical implications
More education and continued advocacy is needed to increase web accessibility at libraries and library schools and to help establish library schools as models of program accessibility.
Originality/value
This is the only study that provides trend information about the accessibility of a broader set of library and library school web sites.
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Sophie Haesen, Sebastian Rauch, Bernice Elger and Michael Rost
According to the principle of equivalence of care, health care in prison has to be of the same standard and quality as in the general population. This study aims to determine the…
Abstract
Purpose
According to the principle of equivalence of care, health care in prison has to be of the same standard and quality as in the general population. This study aims to determine the geographic accessibility of dialysis services for older prisoners and the older general population in Switzerland and whether accessibility and availability of dialysis care are equivalent.
Design/methodology/approach
Spatial accessibility analysis incorporated four different data types: population data, administrative data, street network data and addresses of prisons and hemodialysis services.
Findings
Analysis revealed that the average travel time to the nearest dialysis service was better for prisoners (11.5 min) than for the general population (14.8 min). However, dialysis service for prisoners is hampered by the necessary lead-time in correctional settings, which, ultimately, leads to longer overall access times (36.5 min). Accordingly, the equivalence of dialysis care for older Swiss prisoners is not entirely respected for availability and accessibility.
Originality/value
The strength of the study lies in the combination of ethical principles and the highly tangible results of a spatial accessibility analysis. The ethics-driven empirical analysis provides arguments for policy-makers to review the current practices.
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Anders Haug, Jan Stentoft Arlbjørn and Anne Pedersen
In literature, there is not agreement on the relevant data quality dimensions in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system context. The purpose of this paper is to provide some…
Abstract
Purpose
In literature, there is not agreement on the relevant data quality dimensions in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system context. The purpose of this paper is to provide some clarification of this topic, by answering two important questions: What are the most relevant dimensions for assessing ERP data quality? What are the causal relationships between these data quality dimensions?
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a discussion of existing literature on data quality, a classification model of ERP system data quality is proposed and the relationships between the defined categories of data quality dimensions are defined. The validity of the classification model and the relationships between categories of data quality dimensions are investigated in three case studies.
Findings
The three case studies confirm that the classification model captures the most important aspects of describing ERP data quality and that the defined causalities between categories of data quality dimensions correspond with practice.
Research limitations/implications
Besides being relevant in an ERP system context, the contribution of this paper may also be applicable for the evaluation of data quality in other types of information systems.
Practical implications
The defined classification model of ERP system data quality may support companies in improving their ERP data quality, thereby achieving greater benefits from their ERP systems.
Originality/value
A clarification of the most important data quality aspects in an ERP context is provided. Furthermore, some of the most important causalities between categories of data quality are defined.
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The activities that are at present furthering the visibility of numeric data bases and systems are discussed. A tentative estimate of the numbers of existing numeric data bases…
Abstract
The activities that are at present furthering the visibility of numeric data bases and systems are discussed. A tentative estimate of the numbers of existing numeric data bases and systems in various categories of accessibility (on‐line, batch, and remotely accessible) and availability (public, restricted, and in‐house) is made. Numeric data bases and systems are becoming offered by information retrieval services through many of the channels that made bibliographic and textual information systems successful. These include remote accessibility and marketing by large data base vendors. The user community for numeric data bases is generally more restricted, with the possible exception of business and financial numeric data bases. User training needs are generally greater as well. Numeric data bases may nevertheless reach large user audiences with the advent of distributed processing and, ultimately, data base maps which can automatically locate and link together data bases in many locations.
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Mehrdad Farzandipour, Mahtab Karami, Mohsen Arbabi and Sakine Abbasi Moghadam
Data comprise one of the key resources currently used in organizations. High-quality data are those that are appropriate for use by the customer. The quality of data is a key…
Abstract
Purpose
Data comprise one of the key resources currently used in organizations. High-quality data are those that are appropriate for use by the customer. The quality of data is a key factor in determining the level of healthcare in hospitals, and its improvement leads to an improved quality of health and treatment and ultimately increases patient satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to assess the quality of emergency patients’ information in a hospital information system.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 randomly selected records of patients admitted to the emergency department of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran, in 2016. Data on five dimensions of quality, including accuracy, accessibility, timeliness, completeness and definition, were collected using a researcher-made checklist and were then analyzed in SPSS. The results are presented using descriptive statistics, such as frequency distribution and percentage.
Findings
The overall quality of emergency patients’ information in the hospital information system was 86 percent, and the dimensions of quality scored 87.7 percent for accuracy, 86.8 percent for completeness, 83.9 percent for timeliness, 79 percent for definition and 62.1 percent for accessibility.
Originality/value
Increasing the quality of patient information at emergency departments can lead to improvements in the timely diagnosis and management of diseases and patient and personnel satisfaction, and reduce hospital costs.
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A. Abdollahi Nami and L. Rajabion
A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) enables providers and customers to communicate without a fixed infrastructure. Databases are extended on MANETs to have easy data access and…
Abstract
Purpose
A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) enables providers and customers to communicate without a fixed infrastructure. Databases are extended on MANETs to have easy data access and update. As the energy and mobility limitations of both servers and clients affect the availability of data in MANETs, these data are replicated. The purpose of this paper is to provide a literature review of data replication issues and classify the available strategies based on the issues they addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
The selected articles are reviewed based on the defined criteria. Also, the differences, the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are described. The methods in the literature can be categorized into three groups, including cluster-based, location-based and group-based mechanisms.
Findings
High flexibility and data consistency are the features of cluster-based mechanisms. The location-based mechanisms are also appropriate for replica allocation, and they mostly have low network traffic and delay. Also, the group-based mechanism has high data accessibility compared to other mechanisms. Data accessibility and time have got more attention to data replication techniques. Scalability as an important parameter must be considered more in the future. The reduction of storage cost in MANETs is the main goal of data replication. Researchers have to consider the cost parameter when another parameter will be influenced.
Research limitations/implications
Data replication in MANETs has been covered in different available sources such as Web pages, technical reports, academic publications and editorial notes. The articles published in national journals and conferences are ignored in this study. This study includes articles from academic main international journals to get the best capability.
Originality/value
The paper reviews the past and the state-of-the-art mechanisms in data replication in MANET. Exclusively, data replication’s main goal, existing challenges, research terminologies and mechanisms in MANET are summarized using the answers to the research questions. This method will help researchers in the future to develop more effective data replication method in MANET.
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