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Evaluation of Different Designs to Represent Missing Information in SQL Databases

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Innovations and Advances in Computer, Information, Systems Sciences, and Engineering

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering ((LNEE,volume 152))

Abstract

It is possible to use different designs to deal with the missing information problem in SQL databases. In this paper, we use a multi-criteria decision support method, which is based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process, to evaluate a set of possible designs for dealing with missing information. One of the designs uses SQL NULL-marks, another design uses tables that are in the sixth normal form, and one of the designs uses special values to represent missing information. We evaluate the designs, which are implemented in a PostgreSQL™ database, in terms of two hypothetical contexts. We create a test database, perform measurements, and use the results to compare the designs. The results of the evaluation provide new insights into the advantages and disadvantages of the different designs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Informatics, Tallinn University of Technology, Raja 15, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia

    Erki Eessaar & Elari Saal

Authors
  1. Erki Eessaar
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  2. Elari Saal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erki Eessaar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport, University Avenue 221, Bridgeport, 06604, Connecticut, USA

    Khaled Elleithy

  2. School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport, University Avenue 221, Bridgeport, 06604, Connecticut, USA

    Tarek Sobh

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Eessaar, E., Saal, E. (2013). Evaluation of Different Designs to Represent Missing Information in SQL Databases. In: Elleithy, K., Sobh, T. (eds) Innovations and Advances in Computer, Information, Systems Sciences, and Engineering. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 152. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3535-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3535-8_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3534-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3535-8

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