Metadata Preparation

Large metadata preparation projects are labor intensive. Since these projects are often done infrequently, it can be a burden for organizations to hire and train staff who will only be employed for a short period of time. Colectica’s metadata preparation services can solve this problem.

In most cases, Colectica will develop tools to parse your existing data from its source form and publish it to a Colectica Repository from which you have full access to your metadata over the web, through the Colectica Designer, or in standards-based formats. In situations where automatic data migration is not possible, Colectica can manually process your data.

We have experience preparing many types of metadata.

Survey Instruments

Colectica can create publishable instrument diagrams and code books from your existing data collection instruments. By linking data documentation to documentation of the origin of the data, researchers can get a clearer picture of the data with which they are working.

Classification Development

Colectica can create classification schemes for your open-ended data. In cases where an appropriate standard exists, we will use it. For open-ended data without a relevant standard, we can create a classification that accurately encompasses your data.

In order to aid in the coding of your data, we will provide your classification to you in DDI format. Examples of classification schemes we have already transformed include the International Classification of Disease (ICD-9 and ICD-10) and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

Open-ended Coding

Colectica can code your open-ended data to a standardized classification. We use text-classification algorithms to speed coding, along with manual double-coding and review to ensure accuracy.

Data Documentation

Colectica can prepare documentation for your analysis data sets in the form of fully searchable and easy-to-browse code books. Your documentation will include variable descriptions, links to original data source information, cross references, and summary statistics.