title: Data quality objectives in environmental research planning.
abstract: This paper presents highlights of a Data Quality Objectives course relating the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) seven step research planning process to research efforts at the U.S. EPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, in Duluth, Minnesota. Introductory materials were derived from "Guidance for the Data Quality Objectives Process, EPA QA/G-4." Case studies illustrate decisions that were made during the systematic planning process and subsequent experimentation. This paper demonstrates how the Data Quality Objectives Process clearly links research goals and objectives with the final product. Application of the process to environmental research ensures that environmental research data are of known, credible, defensible and usable quality.
authors.affiliation: US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA. batterman.allan@epa.gov
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Batterman
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Batterman
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Whiteman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards; D003657:Decision Making; D004147:Dioxins / Q000633:toxicity; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011340:Problem Solving; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014337:Trout / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical