Surveying the evidential value of e-signed records in the light of the conditions at electronic records management applications in terms of the archival trustworthiness

In this thesis, the evidential value of electronic signed (e-signed) records is examined in terms of archival trustworthiness. The problem is that the risk of these records generated and archived in organizations' electronic records management systems can not preserve their authenticity over time. Therefore it may threaten the evidential value of the particularly e-signed records that will be stored for a long time and cause doubts about their trustworthiness. The hypothesis is as follows: "Due to the fragility of structures such as e-signature, timestamp and e-seal and the failure of institutions to adopt necessary controls, the evidential value of archived e-signed records may be lost over time in the process of long term preservation." A mixed method was adopted in the thesis, qualitative and quantitative research was conducted. In the qualitative part of the field research, experts who have evaluated e-records management practices in different organizations in Turkey were selected as a sample. Nine (9) people were interviewed. In the quantitative part, six (6) institutions from the ministries sample, which are the cluster of organizations that employ the most public personnel in Turkey, were examined. In the qualitative research, it was asked whether the experts also adopted the opinions that emerged from the literature readings, and it was understood that all of these opinions were accepted, except for one. In the quantitative research, practices of the institutions regarding the maintenance of the archival bond, provision of the necessary technological conditions and enacting of policies and procedures for the preservation of trusworthiness of the records were criticized. In the light of the answers given to the questions, it has been seen that the institutions do not have enough successful practices in these areas. Institutions are more successful in providing technological conditions. It has been understood that e-records management is not considered as a process, but adopted just as a software in the field. In order to preserve the trustworthiness of e-signed records and prevent their evidential value from risking, it has been conducted that policies and procedures for long-term preservation should be enacted, the necessary technological conditions should be provided, and the archival bond should be maintained without breaking the record hierarchy.