Variable-Level Data Documentation: Why and How

Variable-level data documentation is time-consuming and can seem overly fiddly or mired in technical detail. So why do it? This workshop introduces the benefits of data dictionaries and metadata catalogues, and helps participants think through the technical and metadata options available to them, from spreadsheets to NoSQL databases. Drawing on the presenter’s extensive experience with metadata management and current project creating a small federated data dictionary, this is meant to provide an accessible overview of the metadata/data dictionary landscape. Whether you need to start your variable-level documentation from scratch or are thinking about levelling up, this workshop introduces the tools and concepts that can be used to keep you abreast of an increasingly collaborative and federated research environment.