Data Description
Creating a good description of your dataset (creating good metadata) is a critical element to making it findable, accessible, and reusable by others. In addition to facilitating sharing, it also plays a key role in replicability and interoperability. Well written metadata will answer these questions (in a format that both people and machines can read):
- Why was the data created?
- What processes were used to create the data?
- When was the data last updated?
- Who created the data?
- What fields are present and what do the values of those fields mean?
- Who do I contact about getting more information about the data?
- How do I obtain a hard copy of the data?
- Are there any limitations to the data?
The process of describing data includes creating adequate metadata and can include working with researchers to properly describe the descriptive, structural, and relational aspects of complex datasets, converting data to appropriate file formats, creating readme files, and other tasks associated with data curation.