In order to identify priorities for GIS user needs, participants were also
asked to allocate a total of one hundred points among a series of issues and
needs related with GIS technology from a list of twenty-one issues identified
in Phase I. In addition, blank space was provided for respondents to extend
the list by suggesting additional needs and issues. Respondents were to allocate
between zero and one hundred points for each issue in the list, including
any issue they suggested, restricted by the condition that the total points
allocated were to sum one hundred. This point allocation scheme (known as
an “ipsative” measurement technique) allows the respondent to establish the
importance of a particular issue compared to others, especially if one doubles
or triples the score obtained by another issue. Finally, if an issue received
a score of zero points or no score, it was considered as not relevant for the
respondent. This technique has been used in prior research to determine user
priorities for improving classroom design features and information technology
medium features (Caldwell, 1993; Caldwell et al., 1995) and in the original
CoBITS research to prioritize services in a community information network
(Caldwell & Robertson, 1996).