What is metadata?
Metadata is information that describes data and:
- Enables others (and the original researcher(s)) to understand all details of the project
- ensures data is searchable, findable, accessible and retrievable
- Author
- Description
- Date
- Contact information
- Units of measurement
- Subject
- Keywords
- Affiliation
Metadata standards
There are many different metadata standards available for different disciplines, including:
- DDI (Data Documentation Initiative) - common standard for social, behavioral and economic sciences, including survey data
- Dublin Core - domain agnostic, basic and widely used metadata standard
- ISO 19115 and FGDC-CSDGM (Federal Geographic Data Committee's Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata) - for describing geospatial information
To find more subject specific metadata standards visit:
- Standards. FairSharing.org.Search by subject, geography, organization, etc.
Metadata tools
- Colectica"Colectica® is the fastest way to design, document, and publish your statistical data and survey research using open data standards."
