Creation of Study Descriptions

To ensure data are findable and documented fully, a standard study description is written by DSDR staff. These descriptions consist of a standard set of fields to ensure that standard information is recorded for each study. Completed descriptions reside in a searchable online database. Much of the information in the study description comes from the data deposit form, which data depositors are required to submit with their data.

At a minimum, study descriptions contain:

• ICPSR Classification
• ICPSR Study Number
• Study Title
• Principal Investigator Name(s)
• Summary
• Extent of Collection
• Extent of Processing
• Time Period
• Collection Note
• Case and Variable Information for Each Data File
• Citation

Study descriptions may also include:

• Series Information
• Data Type
• Date of Collect
• Funding Agency
• Grant Number
• Source of Data
• Format of Data
• Sampling
• Universe
• Collection Changes