Enhancing metadata for research methods in data curation

摘要

Metadata is an essential component to making datasets more accessible by others and facilitating meaningful interpretation and use. In particular, data users expect information on the methods or those processes undertaken to generate data to be available for review and data quality assessment. This study focuses on how description of methods is supported by examining current metadata schemes for scientific research data. Analysis of these schemes indicates varying degrees of support and guidance for methods description but with the potential for more comprehensive elements on documenting the data production process to be integrated and adopted. This preliminary investigation concludes with next steps toward a better understanding of metadata needs for research data and curation support of long-term data sharing and reuse.