Probe, which sells its research mainly to telecommunications equipment companies, telephone service providers and manufacturers of information technologies, is one of several companies that are seeking to capitalize on recent worries over the objectivity and quality of the research produced by large Wall Street banks.
This last point, while seemingly good for policy-makers, can pose potential problems to the objectivity and quality of research produced [ 7, 32].
In addition, to ensure the objectivity and quality of the study data, data management and statistical analysis activities will be contracted out to third-party organizations, which will perform these activities according to predefined operation procedures.
The importance of Internet-based information seeking raises questions about the objectivity and quality of online information sources, which have been addressed not only by several studies [ 33- 37], but also by participants in this survey (Table 2) – addressing the low quality of online information as an obstacle for coping via Internet.
"This move underscores Merrill Lynch's commitment to setting the standard for objectivity, independence and quality of research," said Andrew Melnick, director of Merrill Lynch Global Securities Research.
It charged the government to create procedures "ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility and integrity" of scientific information and statistics disseminated by federal agencies.
This affects both the objectivity of the quality control and its accessibility, especially in primary-level hospitals with limited personnel.
The act is intended, a federal memo states, to ensure "the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies".
The IQA requires administrative agencies to devise guidelines that ensure the "quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information" they distribute and to "[e]stablish administrative mechanisms allowing affected persons to seek and obtain correction of information maintained and disseminated by the agency that does not comply with the guidelines".
Critics inside and outside the Senate say the provision's call for "ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of scientific information relied upon by such agency" is both broad and vague, and is designed to gum up regulatory work at the federal agencies.
