A superstructure for models of quality

Abstract

With additional quality modeling features added to conceptual models, computers could play a greater role in ensuring a higher level of quality in the information we model. For information-discovery applications, these additional conceptual modeling features should automatically accommodate certainty and conflicting information, support evidence-based research, automate collaboration, and provide research guidance. To address these issues, we propose a superstructure that adds four additional abstraction layers to typical conceptual models: a knowledge layer, an evidence layer, a communication layer, and an action layer. We show by a running example the benefits these abstraction layers provide for increasing the quality of the information being modeled.