Metadata is defined as "structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource. Metadata is often called data about data or information about information." (Understanding Metadata, National Information Standards Organization United States, 2004).
Here is the metadata type table adapted from National Information Standards Organization United States.
Metadata Type | Example Properties | Primary |
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Descriptive metadata Common fields which help users to discover online sources through searching and browsing |
Title Author Subject Genre Publication date |
Discovery Display Interoperability |
Technical metadata Fields which describe the information required to access the data |
File type File size Creation date/time Compression scheme |
Interoperability Digital object management Preservation |
Administrative Metadata - Preservation Fields that facilitate the management of resources |
Checksum Preservation event |
Interoperability Digital object management Preservation |
Administrative Metadata - Rights Fields which deal with intellectual property rights |
Copyright status License terms Rights holder |
Interoperability Digital object management |
Structural metadata Fields which describe how different components of a set of associated data relate to one another |
Sequence Place in hierarchy |
Navigation |
Markup languages Languages which integrate metadata and flags for other structural or semantic features within content |
Paragraph Heading List Name Date |
Navigation Interoperability |
The following is a video created by EDINA, University of Edinburgh, explaining what metadata is.
Metadata standards/schemas may vary from discipline to discipline. Dublin Core is one of the most commonly-used generic metadata standards.
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Simple Dublin Core involves 15 elements (optional & repeatable):
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Source: Research data management Libguide,The University of Queensland
Here are some useful resources for you to explore metadata schema in your research areas:
A README file is intended to help ensure that your research data can be correctly interpreted and re-used by others. Here are some best practices in creating comprehensive README files.
Here are some recommended contents for the README files of your research data. The table is adapted from Guide to writing "readme" style metadata, Cornell University Research Data Management Service Group and README guidance from Dryad.
General information |
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Data and file overview |
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Sharing and access information |
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Methodological information |
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You can adapt to this template if appropriate. This template is adapted from Guide to Writing "readme" Style Metadata, Comprehensive Data Management Planning & Services, Cornell University.