Metadata Management at GESIS-ZA

Reiner MauerGESIS – Data Archive and Data Analysis

CESSDA-Expert Seminar Odense, September 11th 2008

Metadata Management: Requirements

• Support of common metadata elements• Interoperable with existing systems• Different user roles (management of access/edit rights)• Quick and easy update of metadata for end-users• Support for parallel content in different languages • Long-term preservation

Metadata Management: simplified overview schema

Dataset Documentation

Manager (DSDM)edit or create variable

documentation

DDI/XML

long term preservationOSIRIS codebook

migration

Data processing(cleaning, standardizing, harmonizing, integrating, cumulating)

DBKEditmetadata on study

level: “study descriptions” +

internal administrative metadata

Data holdings catalogue(DBKSearch)

ZA CodebookExplorer

ZACAT (Nesstar)

DDI/XML

SPSS

XML (DDI)

Presentation / RetrievalCreation / Administration

Metadata Management: Metadata on Study Level

DBKEdit 1.2• Web based system with backend database (MySQL)• External and internal (administrative) metadata• DDI compliant structure of standard ZA study description• User Roles for internal and external metadata fields• Parallel English/German content• Export to DDI 2.0• Control publication options for related materials

(questionnaires, reports, …)

DBKSearch 1.2 (Data Holdings Catalogue)• Web based search in up to date backend database

Metadata Management: Study Level, DBKEdit

Metadata Management: Metadata on Variable Level

DSDM 2.5 (Dataset Documentation Manager)• Stand-alone application with backend database• DDI compliant structure of metadata• English/German interface• Parallel English/original language content (unicode)• Import SPSS and/ or XML metadata• Export DDI 2.0 metadata or CodebookExplorer database

with integration of study level metadata

ZACAT (NESSTAR), CodebookExplorer 3.3• Web based or offline search/browse metadata

Metadata Management: Metadata on Variable Level

DSDM 2.5 Special Functions• Input and edit question and answer texts, interviewer

instructions, forward/backward filters, subquestions (item batteries), archival notes, variable groups

• Documentation of comparative datasets by definition of specifics (regional or temporal deviations)

• Documentation of original questionnaire languages• Re-use question and answer texts from existing studies• Export Nesstar specific DDI for publication • Export long-term preservation DDI with complete

structure• CodebookExplorer Database Wizard

Metadata Management: DSDM 2.5, Dataset Catalogue

Metadata Management: DSDM 2.5, Question Catalogue

Metadata Management: DSDM Special Nesstar Export Functions

• Build embedded links to related documents published via data holdings catalogue

• Creation of variable groups • Selection of CodebookExplorer Database to include links

to comparable variables (over time or space)

supports ZACAT Nesstar Extension for: Trend comparison Country/Language comparison Show Card pictures

Metadata Management: Nesstar Extension for Comparison

ZACAT: Identification of TrendsExample: European Value Study 1999/2000

Comparison with similar questions from 1. and 2. wave

Metadata Management: Nesstar Extension for Comparison

ZACAT: Comparison of language versionsExample: European Value Study 1999/2000

(33 Countries, 28 Languages, 39 Datasets)

Metadata Management: Nesstar Extension for Comparison

ZACAT: Inclusion of Show Card PicturesExample: European Value Study 1999/2000

Metadata Management: ZA CodebookExplorer

ZA CodebookExplorer 3.4:

• original language and show card support• browse studies or trends (continuity guides etc.)• user can define own view on collections of studies• search in study or variable descriptions• simple analysis like frequencies or crosstabs• show questionnaires • access SPSS datasets

Metadata Management: ZA CodebookExplorer

ZA CodebookExplorer 3.4:

• original language and show card support• browse studies or trends (continuity guides etc.)• user can define own view on collections of studies• search in study or variable descriptions• simple analysis like frequencies or crosstabs• show questionnaires • access SPSS datasets

Metadata Management: Future Developments

• DDI 3.0 Compatibility• Advanced Reporting Facilities• Integration of workflows and tools

integration of DSDM, DBKEdit, CBE reporting plus functionality to replace SPSS for metadata/data procession (implementation depends on availability of funding)

Thank you!