Validation of the Formal Quality Index as a model for assessing websites: The case of the local Portuguese e-Administration

Abstract The results derived from a content analysis applied to websites from 308 municipalities in Portugal are discussed. Despite the name of the method (which could possibly lead to confusion), the study has exclusively focused on the formal parameters of online communication; that is, audiovisual appearance, information architecture, usability, accessibility, and features of Web 2.0 present in the websites of the sample. As the main strategy for data processing, a Formal Quality Index was created from the computation of certain items in the codebook; a procedure adapted from previous research was satisfactorily replicated in the present study. This indicator was used to make interregional comparisons, which showed statistically significant differences, and it was also correlated with factors such as population, budget, purchasing power, or technological development of municipalities; all these were predictors of the formal status of the local Portuguese e-Administration.

摘要 本研究探讨了针对葡萄牙308个市政当局官方网站开展内容分析（content analysis）所得出的研究结果。尽管该方法的名称可能引发误解，但本研究仅聚焦于线上传播的形式化参数，具体涵盖视听呈现效果、信息架构（information architecture）、可用性（usability）、可访问性（accessibility），以及研究样本官网中搭载的Web 2.0功能。作为数据处理的核心策略，本研究通过对编码手册（codebook）中的若干条目进行计算，构建了形式化质量指数（Formal Quality Index）；本研究对既往研究中的相关方法进行了适配并成功完成复现。该指标被用于开展区域间比较分析，结果显示不同区域间存在统计学意义上的显著差异；同时，该指数还与市政当局的人口规模、财政预算、购买力或技术发展水平等因素存在相关性，上述因素均可作为葡萄牙地方电子政务（e-Administration）形式化发展水平的预测因子。