Steps Used By Dedupe Software to Perform Record Linkage

Posted by GiulyRotarry on December 14th, 2012

When two minor records are merged to form a single record which would serve both agencies with equal efficiency, the process is known as record linkage and the software which facilitates this merger is known as dedupe software. A minor record could be described as a written document comprising of information pertaining to a particular thing, individual or organization. Such a document is comprehensive enough to facilitate easy identification. However, when too many such records accumulate they need to be linked and this is where dedupe technology comes into play.

Because it entails joining many types of data and owing to lack of surety in terms of identifier, record linkage is a sensitive process. This is the reason as to why it is imperative for the user to select not just the dedupe technology but also the dedupe software program with care. The package should be such that every step is handled with care so that the outcome is achieved as desired and there is no compromise on quality as well. Considering that record linkage is of two types namely deterministic and probabilistic, both need to be preceded by a pre-processing stage.

There are times when the same information is recorded in different ways to serve as data for different organizations. It could be due to formatting or the manner in which the information may have been gathered but this difference would prove to be an obstacle when subjected to dedupe technology. Therefore, the need of the hour is that of standardization so that once arranged in consistent format linkage for records would not just be possible but convenient as well. With some dedupe software packages offering this feature, it could well be termed as the first step.

For records to be linked, there has to be some common ground between them and this is termed as the common identifier in the dedupe technology jargon. Although this may not be present under all circumstances, the linkage which is facilitated thanks to this factor is termed as being deterministic record linkage. All that the dedupe software program has to do under this simplest form of record linkage is to spot some identical identifiers amongst the various sets of data. For example, when it comes to keeping track of individuals, their social security number would be the best identifier.

Quality of data plays an instrumental role here as the dedupe technology for record linkage may not be as effective if the qualitative aspect is found lacking. Assume for example that in case of the social security number serving as the identifier there are some data in which this figure is missing. The best way to deal with such a situation would be to tweak the record linkage rules of the dedupe software package so that the rules for standardization are modified to some extent. Of course the user would first have to inquire the flexibility of the software as also its list of in-built rules.

Dedupe technology is capable of carrying out another type of linkage and this is known as probabilistic. At times when there is no specific identifier and to make up for it a large number of potential grounds are taken into account, matching acquires a fuzzy nature and the resultant record linkage is referred to as probabilistic. Under the circumstances a threshold is established and pairs which cross the line are deemed as matches while others are discarded as non-matches. The dedupe software in this case is capable of functioning independently without any human monitoring.

At the time of applying dedupe technology for record linkage, it is imperative for the user to be cognizant in the methods involved. Equally essential is the knowledge pertaining to the types of record linkage that a dedupe software can perform so that the user knows what to expect.

When two minor records are merged to form a single record which would serve both agencies with equal efficiency, the process is known as record linkage and the software which facilitates this merger is known as dedupe software. A minor record could be described as a written document comprising of information pertaining to a particular thing, individual or organization. Such a document is comprehensive enough to facilitate easy identification. However, when too many such records accumulate they need to be linked and this is where dedupe technology comes into play.

Because it entails joining many types of data and owing to lack of surety in terms of identifier, record linkage is a sensitive process. This is the reason as to why it is imperative for the user to select not just the dedupe technology but also the dedupe software program with care. The package should be such that every step is handled with care so that the outcome is achieved as desired and there is no compromise on quality as well. Considering that record linkage is of two types namely deterministic and probabilistic, both need to be preceded by a pre-processing stage.

There are times when the same information is recorded in different ways to serve as data for different organizations. It could be due to formatting or the manner in which the information may have been gathered but this difference would prove to be an obstacle when subjected to dedupe technology. Therefore, the need of the hour is that of standardization so that once arranged in consistent format linkage for records would not just be possible but convenient as well. With some dedupe software packages offering this feature, it could well be termed as the first step.

For records to be linked, there has to be some common ground between them and this is termed as the common identifier in the dedupe technology jargon. Although this may not be present under all circumstances, the linkage which is facilitated thanks to this factor is termed as being deterministic record linkage. All that the dedupe software program has to do under this simplest form of record linkage is to spot some identical identifiers amongst the various sets of data. For example, when it comes to keeping track of individuals, their social security number would be the best identifier.

Quality of data plays an instrumental role here as the dedupe technology for record linkage may not be as effective if the qualitative aspect is found lacking. Assume for example that in case of the social security number serving as the identifier there are some data in which this figure is missing. The best way to deal with such a situation would be to tweak the record linkage rules of the dedupe software package so that the rules for standardization are modified to some extent. Of course the user would first have to inquire the flexibility of the software as also its list of in-built rules.

Dedupe technology is capable of carrying out another type of linkage and this is known as probabilistic. At times when there is no specific identifier and to make up for it a large number of potential grounds are taken into account, matching acquires a fuzzy nature and the resultant record linkage is referred to as probabilistic. Under the circumstances a threshold is established and pairs which cross the line are deemed as matches while others are discarded as non-matches. The dedupe software in this case is capable of functioning independently without any human monitoring.

At the time of applying dedupe technology for record linkage, it is imperative for the user to be cognizant in the methods involved. Equally essential is the knowledge pertaining to the types of record linkage that a dedupe software can perform so that the user knows what to expect.

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GiulyRotarry

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GiulyRotarry
Joined: November 1st, 2012
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