{"id":138,"date":"2020-11-18T19:30:14","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T17:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.uef.fi\/bors\/?page_id=138"},"modified":"2025-12-23T10:16:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T08:16:40","slug":"making-it-fair","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uef.fi\/bors\/module-4-open-research-data\/making-it-fair\/","title":{"rendered":"Making it FAIR"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko, Pexels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Metadata, the key to FAIR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When making data FAIR<\/strong><\/a> (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), metadata plays an important role. Metadata means descriptive information about the research data. To make research data easier to find and understand, it is essential to document the data. This considerably facilitates the further use of the data and makes reproducibility possible. Well-documented data is used and cited more frequently, which increases the reputation of the creator. Documentation is also helpful for you: Over time, details can fall into oblivion, so it is advisable to document the data directly while you work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good metadata enables you to understand<\/strong>, use<\/strong>, and share<\/strong> your data now and in the future, and helps other researchers discover<\/strong>, access<\/strong>, use<\/strong> and cite<\/strong> your data in the long-term. It also facilitates long-term preservation of the data. It ensures that the context for how your data was created, analysed and stored, is clear, detailed, and therefore, reproducible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With metadata you describe, for example, who is the responsible researcher, when, where and why the data was collected, and how the research data should be cited. The content and format of metadata is often guided by a specific discipline and\/or repository (in case you deposit the data to a repository). Remember to produce metadata along the research project, not at the end of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the context of open science and for optimal long-term archiving, data files should not be compressed or saved as proprietary formats, while open formats<\/strong> should be favoured. This ensures the access and reusability of the content. Notice that some file formats can\u2019t be converted to open formats. Check if the repository where you want to deposit a dataset has a list of preferred file formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about recommended file formats<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to make your data FAIR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Particularly, when you are planning to share your data, it is recommended to follow the FAIR principles<\/a> in research data management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, the FAIR principles mean that the data is:<\/h3>\n\n\n\t
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