Enhancing the Quality of Conceptual Database Specifications through Validation

In this article, we present a validation approach and method to support the development of database applications. We explain how validation can cope both with the need for a formalized evaluation of correctness as well as the need for prototyping of conceptual database schemata. We define different levels of correctness for such schemata and show how these levels can be achieved through validation methods. Furthermore, we describe how our validation framework can be applied to other conceptual specifications.