Making Research Data Accessible. Suggestions from the Scientific Community

Wefer, Gerold Making Research Data Accessible. Suggestions from the Scientific Community., 2007 . In Berlin 5 Open Access: From practice to impact: Consequences of Knowledge dissemination, Padova (Italy), 19-21 September. (Unpublished) [Presentation]

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English abstract

Databases suffer from a bad reputation. Data input is often problematic because of obscure formats. And sometimes it is difficult to know how to retrieve data. When the data are located, the documentation is frequently inaccurate, or even completely missing. Confronted with unacceptable data quality problems, many scientists refuse to work further with recycled numbers at all. The value of data lies in their usefulness (ICSU-CODATA), but their use is only possible, when the data are easily accessible. Technical and organizational ramifications arising from the restraints described above necessitate improvements in the acquisition of data. (1) The acceptance of a data system stands or falls with the simplicity of locating the system, ease of access, and its content. (2) The data must be accompanied by standardized descriptions, so that the user can evaluate their quality and source (no data without metadata, no metadata without data). (3) Scientists are motivated to provide data if they are appropriately referenced. Every data set must include in its description a usable citation. The citation should include a permanent identifier that is presently in conventional use by established publishing companies (for example, DOI). (4) In order to assure sustainability, data storage must be managed by established centers and systems that have a competent grasp of the necessary technical constraints. (5) Both the citation and publication of data, particularly under the concept of peer-review, are becoming increasingly important in international discussions. (6) Funding agencies, institutes and projects should formulate their data politics with appropriate explanations and regulations.

Item type:	Presentation
Keywords:	easily accessible data, norms for data usability
Subjects:	H. Information sources, supports, channels. > HL. Databases and database Networking. B. Information use and sociology of information > BG. Information dissemination and diffusion.
Depositing user:	Users 181 not found.
Date deposited:	12 Dec 2007
Last modified:	02 Oct 2014 12:10
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/10760/10877

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