C-DAMAA

Data Curation

Overview

C-DAMAA provides the platform for the submission and storage of datasets. The Centre also provides access to these datasets for reuse by other researchers. Data curation is the process C-DAMAA employs to add value to data, maximise access and enhance the long-term usage and preservation of the data. The data curation process also ensures that datasets are cleaned, well organised, described and preserved for public use. In today’s world, it is relatively easy for data to be shared, however, without any proper data curation it would be relatively difficult for such datasets to be found, use and properly interpreted. Through data curation, C-DAMAA provides lasting and meaningful access to data .


Submission of Data

C-DAMAA accepts data from census or surveys and other administrative records. C-DAMAA accepts data files in all proprietary formats (e.g. Excel, SPSS, Eviews, STATA etc). All datasets that are been submitted to the Centre must come with all necessary documentation. The documentation should include among others the questionnaires (if any), codebooks and reports. Please, it is important for researchers who submit datasets to C-DAMAA to ensure that they have the rights to share the data with the Centre.


Data Assurance

  • Disclosure control

    To ensure the anonymity of respondents for each dataset submitted, the Centre undertakes disclosure control in order to ensure that data files do not contain identifiable information of respondents. View the C-DAMAA disclosure control flowchart .

  • Data Quality Check

    Dataset submitted to C-DAMAA is usually taken through quality control to ensure the accuracy and usability of data submitted to the Centre. Data management experts and data curators within the Centre check for anomalies in the data file and documentation associated with the data and correct them in consultation with data depositors.


Metadata Creation

All datasets provided by C-DAMAA comes with extensive user information created for each specific datasets. The metadata for each dataset is produced according to the Data Documentation Initiative data description standard. The Centre also uses the metadata creation template provided by NESSTAR.


Archiving Data

An archival version of all iterations of each dataset is maintained by C-DAMAA. Archival versions are securely kept and migrated as technology changes, to ensure they are always accessible.