Proposal for a framework of contextual metadata in selected research infrastructures of the life sciences and the social sciences & humanities

Abstract

Usually, the focus of metadata annotation is on the research output rather than the context in which products were generated. The objective of this project was to develop a framework for contextual metadata, involving six research infrastructures (RIs) from two different domains. As a first step semi-structured interviews were performed to assess the current handling of contextual metadata. Then, these results were put into perspective with the main entities of research processes in general, leading to a framework for contextual metadata. From the discussion with the RIs and in alignment with the referenced literature, basic entities related to contextual metadata are defined and organised in a framework. In summary, a considerable amount of contextual metadata information is already covered by the RIs, however, not always explicit but implicit within text descriptions. The RIs involved see contextual metadata as necessary to improve replicability and reliability of research and FAIRness of data.