I would be grateful if the following message could be posted on the list.
Apologies for multiple postings.
Dear All,
I am carrying out some research on metadata registries as part of my
studies at City University, Dept. of Information Science.
One of the current metadata registry services is the Environmental
Metadata Registry (http://www.epa.gov/edr).
"The Environmental Data Registry (EDR) is a comprehensive, authoritative
reference for information about the definition, source, and uses of
environmental data" (http://www.epa.gov/edr)
I am interested in what people think of the services provided by EDR. The
aim is to attempt an initial evaluation of current services. I would be
grateful if could take the time and fill in the questionnaire if you are a
current user of the service or visit the site and provide with your
feedback on what you think of the services provided by EDR.
Please return completed questionnaire as an attached file to the
email address: [log in to unmask] no later than the 28th of February
2002.
Thank you,
Panayiota
City University
Dept. of Information Science
Northampton Square
EC1V OHB
London
Tel.: +44 020 7477 8000 ext. 3905
Fax : +44 020 7477 8574
Invitation
Dear Sir/Madame,
My name is Panayiota Polydoratou, and I am currently undertaking Ph.D. research studies at
City University, Department of Information Science, London, United Kingdom.
My research studies are focused on the use and applications of metadata registry systems.
Therefore, I am particularly interested in the Environmental Data Registry.
I would be grateful if you could take a few minutes and complete the following questionnaire. I
I wish to find out what people think of the EDR registry services, attempt an initial evaluation
of some of the functions provided (e.g. the help guide, search facility, etc.) and ask you to
contribute with your input to what are the future expectations regarding registry systems.
As mentioned above, this questionnaire is part of my Ph.D. studies on metadata registries at
City University, Department of Information Science, London, UK. Completing this
questionnaire will be greatly appreciated. Your answers will be treated anonymously and your
personal details, provided by you for further participation, will only be used for the purpose of
contacting you.
The Environmental Protection Agency has not asked me to conduct this research on their
behalf and this questionnaire does not constitute an expression of their views or interests.
Thank you very much in advance,
Ms Panayiota Polydoratou
Contact details:
Panayiota Polydoratou
City University
Department of Information Science
Northampton Square
EC1V OHB
London, UK
Tel.: +44 (0) 20 7 477 8000
Ext. 3905
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7 477 8584
Email: [log in to unmask]
EDR Questionnaire
Dear Sir/Madame,
the purpose of this questionnaire survey is find out what people think of the EDR registry services,
attempt an initial evaluation of some of the functions provided (e.g. the help guide, search facility, etc.)
and ask you to contribute with your input to what are the future expectations regarding registry systems.
This questionnaire is part of my Ph. D. studies and your answers will be treated anonymously. Thank
you for your input and time spent.
Section 1
1. Through the development of EDR, EPA aims to promote an understanding of the
importance of data standardisation, and to provide a forum for networking for parties
interested in environmental information management. Please let us know your main areas
of interest (please tick those that apply):
? Data Harmonisation ( )
? Data Standardisation and Implementation ( )
? Systems Development ( )
? I am attending the conference for reasons of interest ( )
? other than the above (Please specify, e.g. to update my understanding of advances on
metadata issues, to learn about standardisation, to liase with other interested parties in the
environmental protection area, etc.)
2. How often do you use the Internet and/or other online information resources (i.e. online
databases, electronic journals, CD-ROMs, etc.)
? Daily ( )
? Weekly ( )
? Monthly ( )
? Occasionally ( )
? Never ( )
3. How would you describe yourself as a user?
? Advanced user and interested in learning ( )
? Familiar with new technologies and interested in learning ( )
? Moderate user and interested in learning ( )
4. How would you describe the process of obtaining information of interest to you? (this
refers to any kind of information in electronic form, e.g. from the Internet, databases, etc.)
? It is easy (please go to section 2) ( )
? It is easy, however I have encountered some difficulties in
obtaining useful information quickly and easily ( )
? It is difficult to obtain useful information quickly and
easily ( )
5. To what would you attribute the difficulty of obtaining useful information?
? Lack of guidance tools ( )
? Lack of online help facilities ( )
? Lack of supportive services (i.e. index, thesaurus, etc) ( )
? Too much information ( )
? Too much unorganised information ( )
? Badly designed sites that I find difficult to navigate ( )
? Cost of services/information to obtain ( )
? Unfamiliar with searching methods ( )
? Lack of time required for the search ( )
? Other (please specify) ( )
Section 2
1. How often do you use the Environmental Data Registry?
? On a weekly basis ( )
? On a monthly basis ( )
? Occasionally ( )
? Hardly ever ( )
? Never used it before, its my first time ( )
2. How long have you been using Environmental Data Registry?
? 1 month ( )
? 3 months ( )
? 6 months ( )
? More than that (please specify) ( )
3. Please tick the Environmental Data Registry facilities that you have used:
? Comments ( )
? Download ( )
? FAQ ( )
? Glossary ( )
? Help ( )
? How to
facility ( )
? Meetings ( )
? MetaPro ( )
? Newsletter ( )
? Registration Facility ( )
? Search facility ( )
? Subscription service ( )
? Thesaurus ( )
? Whats new
link ( )
? Workshops/Conferences information and announcements ( )
? XML ( )
4. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent, please rank the usefulness of EDR
provided services (usefulness refers to the ability of service to provide you with effective solution
to your initial search)
Supportive Services
?Comments
?Download
?FAQ
?Glossary
?Help
?How to
facility
?MetaPro
?Newsletter
?Registration Facility
?Search facility
?Subscription service
?Thesaurus
?Whats new link
?Workshops/Conferences information and announcements
?XML
5. Are you satisfied with the coverage of information resources that the EDR provides?
? Yes, I am happy with the information resources covered ( )
? I am happy with the information resources covered,
but I would like to see more added in the future ( )
? No, I would expect more information resources to be added soon ( )
6. Which of the following sources of information covered by EDR are of most interest to you?
? Data standards generally (e.g., find out about the status of a
particular standard, etc.) ( )
? Data elements ( )
? Business rules documents ( )
? Environmental related organisations ( )
? Metadata registry architecture information ( )
? Definitions of elements (e.g., mostly interested in the thesaurus,
glossary, index) ( )
? Other (please, specify) ( )
7. Please specify how you have applied the information obtained from EDR?
? I have been testing registries and how they work (please specify) ( )
? Within my organisational commitments (please specify) ( )
? For my research (please specify) ( )
? Other (please specify) ( )
8. Does your organisation have a requirement for a metadata registry system?
? Yes, (please describe) ( )
? No, I am using EDR out of personal interest ( )
? I dont know, I am using EDR out of personal interest ( )
Section 3
1. How would you describe the process of obtaining the information you were looking for from
EDR?
? It has been quite easy and straightforward ( )
? I found what I wanted but I would appreciate more guidance
assistance (e.g., searching examples, guiding help, etc.) ( )
? I havent been able to find what I wanted, I am not happy with
the service ( )
2. How would you describe the relevance of the information that you retrieved?
? Satisfactory ( )
? Adequate ( )
? Not satisfactory ( )
3. On a scale of 1 to 3, where 1 is not satisfactory, 2 is adequate and 3 is satisfactory, how
would your rate the following services
In terms of content
?Business rules documents
?Data standards coverage
?Information resources coverage
In terms of user interface (e.g. , how easy has been to navigate and use the help facility, etc.)
?Comparison Matrix
?Help Facility
?Search facility
?Site Map Facility
4. The Environmental Data Registry provides several facilities to support your searching. How
satisfied are you by these services?
? I am happy with these, I dont feel anything should be changed ( )
(please go to question 6) ( )
? I am happy with the services, but it would welcome some improvements ( )
? I am not happy with the services, I feel there should be improvements ( )
5. The Environmental Data Registry provides several facilities to support your searching.
Which of the following you think should be improved to provide a better service and in
which way?
? The glossary ( )
? The help guide ( )
? The search facility ( )
? The site map ( )
? None, I am quite happy with the services provided ( )
? Other (please specify) ( )
6. The following services are going to be added to the Environmental Data Registry facilities
soon. Please note in order of preference (1 is least important 5 is most important) which are
more important to you
Improved Online Harmonisation
?XML
?MetaPro
?Multiple download files
Section 4 - General Questions/ Comments
1. Mailing list that you came across the questionnaire
2. Please let us know in your own words, what do you think EDR is?
3. How do you or could you use EDR to support the work that you do?
4. Thank you for taking the time and completing this questionnaire. Please use this space to
note any additional comments and/or suggestions that you might have.
If you are interested in participating further to this survey please provide your personal details so that I
can get in touch with you. Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.
Name:
Address:
Email:
Tel.:
Fax:
Contact details:
Ms Panayiota Polydoratou
City University
Department of Information Science
Northampton Square
EC1V OHB
London, UK
Tel.: +44 (0) 20 7 477 8000
Ext. 3905
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7 477 8584
Email: [log in to unmask]
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