| Definition | Source |
| A measure of the degree to which data can be accessed and used and the degree to which data can be updated, maintained, and managed. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Data maintenance
| Definition | Source |
| A measure of the correctness of the content of the data (which requires an authoritative source of reference to be identified and accessible). | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Accuracy to reference source
| Definition | Source |
| Determines the extent to which data objects correctly represent the real-world values for which they were designed. For example, the sales orders for the Northeast region must be assigned a Northeast sales representative. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Accuracy to reality
| Definition | Source |
| A measure of the availability and comprehensiveness of data compared to the total data universe or population of interest. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Data volume
| Definition | Source |
| A measure of unwanted duplication existing within or across systems for a particular field, record, or data set. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Redundancy
| Definition | Source |
| A measure of the equivalence of information stored or used in various data stores, applications, and systems, and the processes for making data equivalent | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Format consistency
| Definition | Source |
| A measure of the degree to which data are current and available for use as specified and in the time frame in which they are expected. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Data timeliness
| Definition | Source |
| A measure of the rate of negative change to the data. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Data freshness
| Definition | Source |
| A measure of how information is presented to and collected from those who utilize it. Format and appearance support appropriate use of information. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Appropriate presentation
| Definition | Source |
| 1) A measure of the degree to which data will produce the desired business transaction or outcome.
2) A measure of the perception of and confidence in the quality of the data; the importance, value, and relevance of the data to business needs. |
D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Information value
| Definition | Source |
| Determines the extent to which data is not missing important relationship linkages. For example, the launch date for a new product must be valid and must be the first week of any quarter, since all new products are launched in the first week of each quarter. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Business rules compliance
| Definition | Source |
| Determines the extent to which data conforms to a specified format. For example, the order date must be in the format YYYY/MM/DD. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Meta-data compliance
| Definition | Source |
| A measure of the existence, completeness, quality, and documentation of data standards, data models, business rules, metadata, and reference data. | D. McGilvray, “Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information”, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008. |
Related Characteristic: Standards and regulatory compliance