NACDA's Open Aging Repository
The NACDA – Open Aging Repository (NACDA-OAR) from the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA) offers self-publishing options for gerontological researchers to share their research projects at no cost. Data collections published in the NACDA-OAR are immediately distributed as-is for immediate research use. NACDA-OAR services are primarily meant to be a resource for NIA-funded projects, although all aging-related data may use the service.
NACDA-OAR self-publications should include all data, annotated program code, command files, and documentation that are needed to replicate research findings. For general instructions for publishing data, see the NACDA-OAR Deposit Instructions below.
For best practice in preparing data for sharing, please refer to ICPSR’s Guide to Social Science Data Preparation and Archiving.
NACDA’s Role
NACDA does not alter datasets deposited in NACDA-OAR in any way. Data are distributed in the same condition and format submitted by the depositor.
NACDA-OAR is one of many services provided by the NACDA Program on Aging to archive and promote gerontological research, aging health and a better understanding of the life course. Please contact NACDA at icpsr-help@umich.edu with any questions you might have about your data and archiving options.
NACDA staff may review data deposited and published to the NACDA – Open Aging Repository at random. If any issues are found during these random reviews, NACDA will contact depositors to remediate the concerns. In the event any data contain direct identifiers or pose a risk to respondent anonymity, NACDA reserves the right to make the data unavailable.
Confidentiality and Copyright
Researchers publishing data in NACDA-OAR are entirely responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of their research subjects. Self-publishers are also required to affirm that they have the right to publish this material. NACDA-OAR requires written permission for distribution of data, but copyright remains with the author.
- Make sure you are signed-in to your Researcher Passport account.
- Select “Deposit to NACDA-OAR” from the NACDA Deposit page.
- Select “Start Your Deposit”
- Select “NACDA – Open Aging Repository” in the “Select a repository” field.
- Provide a descriptive project title.
- Click “Save & Apply” to create a new project
- Click “Continue to Project Workspace” to navigate to your project workspace
- Complete the list of principal investigators and add a descriptive summary of your project.
- NACDA-OAR self-publications should include all data, annotated program code, command files, and documentation that are needed to replicate research findings. Upload readme, program, and data files necessary to replicate the results of your analyses.
- After clicking the “Upload Files” button, drag and drop your files or choose files through a file selection window.
- Click “Upload” to transfer files into your OpenICPSR project workspace.
- Close the “Upload Files” window after the files are uploaded successfully.
- Enter study-level metadata including information about the “Scope of Project” and “Methodology”.
- Once you have described your project and have uploaded and described your files, click “Publish Project.”
- On the Publish data page, you can review the files you have uploaded and described. If everything is correct, click “Proceed to Publish”.
- Review our document on Best Practice for Sharing Code using NACDA-OAR (pdf) (self-publishing repository) prior to publishing your submission to ensure your project is complete.
- A terms and conditions page is presented. Follow the remaining instructions by answering questions about disclosure risk and agreeing to the terms of the OpenICPSR deposit Agreement to complete the publishing process.
- When your project has been published, you will receive a data citation and DOI.
Please contact icpsr-help@umich.edu with any questions about publishing or using data in the NACDA – Open Aging Repository (NACDA-OAR).