Data Quality

Data quality in the WebBRD exceeds that available in any other business bankruptcy resource.  Data are gathered from a variety of sources, the most important of which are the bankruptcy courts' files (on PACER) and the debtors' filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.

Data are carefully collected and checked according to Bankruptcy Research Database protocols.  Since the founding of the BRD in 1994, I have personally checked each piece of data against its source at the time of entry.

Dozens of researchers in law schools and business schools throughout the world use data from the BRD.  Thousands of visitors use WebBRD data on line.  I present the data in a manner that makes it easy to check -- my protocols are available to users and the data -- not just statistics based on them -- are displayed on the website.  I ask users to report any errors.  This kind of use and feedback constantly polishes the data, improving their quality far beyond what can be achieved in "black box" databases.