Étude sur la définition et la mesure des qualités des archives définitives issues d’une évaluation

Some decades ago, interest in studying the archival appraisal function was diversified to deepen theoretical principles (Jenkinson, 1922; Schellenberg, 1956; Samuels, 1992; Cook, 1992b; Eastwood, 1992b; Duranti, 1994; Couture, 1999), strategies (Booms, 1972; Samuels, 1986; Cook, 1992b; Eastwood, 1992b; Couture, 1999) and their implementation process - techniques, instruments and criteria - (Ham, 1984; Boles & Young, 1991; Cook, 2001a, 2001b). However, all these contributions have not yet studied the nature of appraisal results that compose historical archives.  The following four elements explain the nature of this problem. First, from the perspective of documentary heritage, the lack of studies on the definition and measurement of the quality of historical archives prevents verification as whether archive materials are significant. Second, at the administrative level, the current practice of appraisal does not yet invest in a meticulous examination of the nature of its results. Third, in economic terms, the lack of methods and tools used to measure the quality of archives, affects whether these records are judged to be worth the material, technical, financial and human investment that their preservation requires. Finally, from a professional standpoint, the absence of methods and instruments to assess the quality of archives prevents professionals from supporting their decisions on archival appraisal. To remedy this situation, our research seeks to define and measure the quality of archives resulting from their appraisal. For the implementation of the research, we use a quantitative descriptive methodology, and apply it to an unexplored topic (Fortin, 2006) as the operationalization of archival quality.  Two phases constitute the strategy of research. A conceptual phase, in which four quality dimensions of historical archives have been identified and defined. Then an empirical phase aimed to verify the measurability of variables derived from two quality dimensions in the context of historical archives. The data collection was based on the application of a historical archives measurement grid. The completion of data collection which took place at the Bibliothèque Archives nationales du Québec and their processing has enabled the operationalization of 10 specific indicators out of 13 belonging to two dimensions of quality: "Credible evidence" and "Exploitability" of archives. This means that three specific indicators out of 13 were without measures because of some weakness related to their measurement that we have identified and verified during pre-testing research. These three specific indicators are the "Creator" in the context of the size of the "Credible evidence" and "Comprehensibility" and "Findability" in the dimension of "Exploitability". The measurements were conducted to identify weaknesses and improve several variables related to the creator, the conservation office or the state and the nature of the support. Targeting the improvement of a product or service is, as demonstrated in the literature review, the ultimate goal of a study on the dimensions of quality.  Our research promises three significant benefits. In theory, it develops a conceptual framework that offers the definition of the dimensions of the concept of historical archival quality derived from the appraisal process. At the methodological level, it offers a method for measuring the quality of historical archives already tested in the context of a government agency. At the professional level, firstly, it allows the assessment of the results of the exercise of archival appraisal; furthermore, it provides professionals with not only a measurement grid for measuring historical archival qualities already tested, but also the guide that facilitates its application.

Keyphrases: governmental archives, historical archives, archival appraisal, measurement indicators, quality, application guide