SowiDataNet Bringing Social and Economic Research Data Together Monika Linne, Data Archive for the Social Sciences GESIS Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences
SowiDataNet General Overview What is SowiDataNet? How does the scientific community benefit from it? What are the details and features? What has happened so far? What makes SowiDataNet special?
Research data network for the social and economic sciences: a new infrastructure for archiving and distribution of quantitative research data of the social and economic sciences Funded by Time Frame: 01.04.2014 31.03.2017
Project Partners Project lead Main Focus on Infrastructure Main Focus on Research Ideal combination of research and infrastructure expertise from the Social and Economic Siences: Essential prerequisite for the implementation of a community driven repository German Institute for Economic Research
Current Situation Fissured data landscape in Germany: Decentralized and unstandardized preparation of data documentation Scattered data archiving in different organizations, repositories, research data centers No central search and archiving portal Dissemination over several independent data portals, research data centers Data search is extensive and cumbersome, data is very hard to find, efficient re-analysis is hampered
Why SowiDataNet? Research data is collected at great financial expense: therefore, scientific data re-use is cost-effective and economically justified Individual researchers and organizations produce data, but a lot of times don t document, archive or publish it Individual researchers and organizations without an own research data infrastructure need a convenient documentation tool at hand SowiDataNet ensures safe data storage and a central access to data Establish a data sharing mentality in Germany Reduce reluctance of data sharing by: Making data sharing as easy and attractive as possible Enhancing knowledge about data management (guidance for creating data management plans)
Purpose and Features of SowiDataNet Organizations without archiving tools can use SDN for data documentation Autonomous documentation of quantitative research data from individual researchers Central search portal SDN also references to data held in organizations and research data centers Implementation of a web-based infrastructure for research data Bringing together research data from different sources and data providers Interface-based usage of SDN on institutional websites (customized view)
Purpose and Features of SowiDataNet Modular system (future extension by other disciplines possible) Data access by direct download or linking to institutional data base Implementation of a web-based infrastructure for research data Following metadata standards (DublinCore, DataCite) Bitstream Preservation Data Review Integration of Social Media (discussion forums, notification features, rating options) DOI Registration
Target Group Organizations without own research data infrastructure Organizations with own research data infrastructure Research data centers Individual researchers
SowiDataNet is community driven. It focusses on the specific needs of social and economic scientists. What has happened so far? Comprehensive Specification analysis Workshop Expert interviews Literature review Information-Website Prototype Testing
Results Specification Analysis Request for minimum data documentation standards A comprehensive data documentation makes data reuse easier and more attractive At the same time barriers for data providers have to be low to enhance the acceptance of SowiDataNet Two primary target groups: Research Organizations without archiving tools and individual researchers How can the data and metadata quality be ensured? Community driven (e.g., by valuation functions) Instructions for data providers (mandatory fields) Data review
Implementation of prototype: Building on recent datorium developments http://portal.sowidatanet.de:9191/xmlui/
Currently we are testing. Several test persons from different Organizations (heterogeneous circle of users) Tests with big and heterogeneous data sets Documentation of tests (with guidance document) Consolidation of the results Discussion of results Adjustment of prototype
SowiDataNet Just another repository? Not just a self-archiving portal Data review Quality controlled Community driven Social networking options Brings together decentralized discipline-specific data Offers scientific organizations a customized/ local usage with its corporate design (premium service) Contact person for questions concerning data documentation
Access to all project information under (www.sowidatanet. de): Project proposal Working packages Events Conference contributions Publications Interim results Etc.
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