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Title: Metadata from the Data Collection Point of View

• Speaker: Daniel Gillman, Information Scientist, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Discussant: Julia I. Lane, Program Director Science of Science and Innovation Policy, National Science Foundation
• Chair: Katie E. Joseph, Mathematical Statistician, Energy Information Administration
• Date/Time: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 / 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
• Location: Bureau of Labor Statistics Conference Center, Room 2. Bring a photo ID to the seminar. BLS is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE. Take the Red Line to Union Station.
• Sponsors: WSS Data Collection Methods and DC-AAPOR

Abstract:

The term metadata was first used to name the data generated to describe other data - data about data. The success with that approach led toexpanding the term to mean data that describes any object. Surveys produce many kinds of objects (e.g., questionnaires, case contacts, edit specifications, etc.), and each can be described. Those descriptions are statistical metadata.

The survey life-cycle is unusual in that metadata from one part of the cycle has an effect on actions in later steps. For example, sampling has an impact on the cost of data collection. Paradata, which is metadata obtained from the data collection process, is included. Unfortunately, using the term paradata rather than metadata has the side-effect of isolating this metadata from other parts of the survey life-cycle in the minds of survey methodologists and analysts. Now, there are many reasons to use paradata to enhance data collection activities only, but paradata may affect other processing, too.

Using a fabricated survey, we trace the origin and uses of metadata throughout the survey life-cycle with emphasis and perspective on data collection. The objective is to demonstrate how the data collection process both uses and produces metadata, how metadata produced by one life-cycle step is used in later steps, and how metadata management techniques can greatly increase the usefulness of metadata. This is true for survey processing, survey planning and redesign, and data dissemination.

The ultimate goal of the talk is to show how metadata may be used to tie the pieces of a survey together into a coherent whole. The advantages are numerous.