Extending information quality assessment methodology: A new veracity/deception dimension and its measures

Abstract

This paper extends information quality (IQ) assessment methodology by arguing that veracity/deception should be one of the components of intrinsic IQ dimensions. Since veracity/deception differs contextually from accuracy and other well-studied components of intrinsic IQ, the inclusion of veracity/deception in the set of IQ dimensions has its own contribution to the assessment and improvement of IQ. Recently developed software to detect deception in textual information represents the ready-to-use IQ assessment (IQA) instruments. The focus of the paper is on the specific IQ problem related to deceptive messages and affected information activities as well as IQA instruments (or tools) of detecting deception to improve IQ. In particular, the methodology of automated deception detection in written communication provides the basis for measuring veracity/deception dimension and demonstrates no overlap with other intrinsic IQ dimensions. Considering several known deception types (such as falsification, concealment and equivocation), we emphasize that the IQA deception tools are primarily suitable for falsification. Certain types of deception strategies cannot be spotted automatically with the existing IQA instruments based on underlying linguistic differences between truth-tellers and liars. We propose the potential avenues for the future development of the automated instruments to detect deception taking into account the theoretical, methodological and practical aspects and needs. Blending multidisciplinary research on Deception Detection with the one on IQ in Library and Information Science (LIS) and Management Information Systems (MIS), the paper contributes to IQA and its improvement by adding one more dimension, veracity/deception, to intrinsic IQ. Copyright © 2010 Victoria L. Rubin and Tatiana Vashchilko.