Information Quality Online

User Perceptions of Information Quality in World Wide Web Information Retrieval Behaviour
**Winner of: MIT-ICIQ "2008 Ballou & Pazer DQ/IQ Dissertation of the Year"
**Top 10 finalist "2009 ACPHIS Medal" (best Australian PhD in IS, 2009)"

The supposition of this research, which began in late 2004, is that – given there are no enforceable standards regarding information published on the World-wide web – we can expect to see an increasing number of issues associated with the quality, and more specifically, user perceptions of the quality, of information hosted on the web. The end - and ongoing - result of the associated research project was the PhD "User Perceptions of Information Quality in World Wide Web Information Retrieval Behaviour" which is still producing associated research, three years after its submission.

The PhD examines how users interact with internet search engines for the purpose of retrieving information from the World Wide Web. It investigates such issues as user acceptance and adoption of internet search engines; user perceptions of information quality; and how those perceptions influence information seeking behaviour and information retrieval behaviours and decision making processes.

	Institution:	Edith Cowan University (2004 – 2007)
	Funding:	ARC Discovery Grant (DP0452862)
	Submission:	Accepted: July 2008
	Brief Abstract:	User results are explored and discussed in the context of a novel investigative framework, the “Combined Conceptual Life-Cycle” (CC/LC) model of IQ, which enables researchers to develop a more accurate research lens through which to examine user/information interaction and perceptions of IQ.
		The findings associated with the thesis are also consistent with the proposal of a new “Ongoing Technology Acceptance Model” (OTAM), which facilitates the measurement of users’ perception of the predictability of their technology interactions, and has the capacity to more accurately investigate user individual differences, and feedback mechanisms involved with user/system interaction
	Project:	Joint project between ECU (Edith Cowan University); UOW (University of Wollongong) and Siena University (Italy), "Building an Internet Search Engine for Quality Information Retrieval" (DP0452862)
	(online) PhD:	http://dataquality.computing.dcu.ie/thesis/2008PhD_KNIGHT.pdf

The following are publications associated directly with the PhD:

	Journal Submissions:	Knight, S.A. & Cross, D. (2012). Using Contextual Constructs Model to frame Doctoral Research Methodology. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 7, [ERA FoR-code=1302]
		Knight, S.A. & Burn, J.M. (in-Press 2012). Introducing the OTAM: Exploring Users' Perceptions of their On-going Interaction with Adopted Technologies. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, TAB(tab), [ERA FoR-code=0806; FoR-code=1702] Submission: March, 2009; Accepted: Jan, 2011.
		Knight, S.A. (2011). The Combined Conceptual Life-Cycle Model of Information Quality: Part 1, An Investigative Framework. International Journal of Information Quality, 2(3), 205-230 [ERA FoR-code=0804] (PDF version: The CCLC Model of IQ: An Investigative Framework) Submission: late, 2008; Accepted: Jan, 2011; Published: Mid 2011
		Knight, S.A. & Burn, J.M (2005). Developing a Framework for Assessing Information Quality on the World Wide Web. Informing Science Journal, 8(5), 159-172 [ERA FoR-code=0806] *most cited paper = 130 citations (March 2012) GoogleScholar results* **
	Conferences:	Knight, S.A. (2011). The Combined Conceptual Life Cycle Model of Information Quality in User Perceptions of IQ on the Web. International Conference in Information Quality, Adelaide, 18-20 Nov
		Knight, S.A., Halkett, G. K & Cross, D. (2010). The Context and Contextual Constructs of Research. Qualitative Research in IT & IT in Qualitative Research (QualIT-2010) Conference, Brisbane, Australia Most Commended Paper Award
		Knight, S.A. & Burn, J.M (2005). Developing a Framework for Assessing Information Quality on the World Wide Web. Proc. Information Science + Information Technology Education Joint Conference (InSITE), June 16-19, Flagstaff, Arizona. Best Paper Award
		Knight, S.A. (2004) TAM & The Internet: An investigation into the changing face of the TAM and its application to Internet Search Engines. Proc. 5th International We-B Conference, Nov 2004; Perth, Western Australia. Best Paper nomination
	Book Chapters:	Knight, S.A. (2008) A Conceptual Framework for Investigating Information Quality in Information Systems. in M. Pember & R. Cowan (Eds.) Information & Records Management Annual, 2008 edition
		Knight, S.A. & Spink, A.H (2008). Toward a Web Search Information Behavior Model. in A. Spink & M. Zimmer (Eds.) Web Search: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, Berlin, Springer, 209-234.
		(all career publications (inc. non-PhD related) listed here)

In keeping with the researcher/author's philosophical belief in an 'OpenSource' approach to research and learning. Publications and writing will be made available periodically on these pages. Please come back and visit anytime.

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For more information regarding this research, email Shirlee-ann Knight at:

s.knight@ecu.edu.au