 |
 |
Dear Masud and colleagues, at DANS we ask for a research information file with a description of the research, and a file list when there are lots of files involved. We also use this file list to check whether the dataset is complete or not, and it proves to be very useful. The researcher is the expert on his / her data, so we do ask depositors for more information. Archiving data without the relevant metadata or in an incomplete dataset is not useful. Once researchers are aware of that, they are usually very cooperative, although busy. In our experience, they often have this Materials and Methods section of articles ready in an early stage of the article, which could serve as a research information file in most datasets. We strongly suggest researchers to deposit data in so-called 'prefered formats'. Other formats could be deposited too, but conversion in the future when necessary is not guaranteed. Being a sustainable data archive, we are often confronted with new file formats, so the list of 'preferred formats' is constantly subject of research itself. Except from online fora, colleagues etc. researchers have a key role in informing us whether certain new file formats are commonly used within their discipline or not, and ways of reading and using the files. In our experience, most depositors are happy to do so, especially if you admit that you need to learn yourself and would like to consider this new format for the 'preferred formats' list. Hope this helps, good luck! Regards, Marieke Polhout Datamanager Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) The Hague, The Netherlands [log in to unmask] DANS promotes sustained access to digital research data. Please visit www.dans.knaw.nl for more information. DANS is an institute of KNAW and NWO.