Research Transparency and Data Sharing in Alpha

Chifundo Kanjala, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Jay Greenfield, Thirdmost consultancy
Arofan Gregory, Thirdmost consultancy
Emma Slaymaker, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Jim Todd, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)

Metadata, usually defined as data about data, are important for correct interpretation of data. Today metadata are often incomplete in Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) harmonised datasets. Inspired by the work in the iSHARE project which resulted in the most comprehensive solution for harmonisation and curation of HDSS data to date, the Centre in a Box (CiB), we sought to extend its data provenance documentation capabilities. Hitherto, these were tool specific thus inflexible for cross platform sharing. We investigated the provision of user friendly access to data harmonisation metadata in a network of HDSS studies by applying a semi-automated documentation approach and running a requirements elicitation study with data managers and researchers. Proposed metadata and features for a metadata browser software were generally well received by interviewees. Plans are underway to develop the metadata browsing software, manuals and curriculum for guiding/ training users and maintainers of the metadata system.