When is documentation of my research data "good"? In fact, this question can be answered differently depending on the priorities of the research group:

• Reproducibility: is it important that we or others can arrive at the same results using the same methods under the same conditions?
• Traceability: Is it important that we or others can fully understand the entire research process, from the idea to the choice of methods to the analyses and results?
• Verifiability: Is it important that we or others can validate the data quality and accuracy based on the available information?
• Reusability: Is it important that we or others can use the data outside the context in which it was originally created?

Good documentation does not have to cover all requirements at the same time. In most cases, it can't. The target group of the documentation determines which priorities should be set. For example, do other researchers need standardized metadata or do funding institutions need detailed descriptions of methods?

When documenting, we recommend taking the perspective of the people who will be working with your documentation. Science thrives on communication, and in this context, documentation offers the opportunity to engage in a dialog about your research.

We would be happy to talk to you. Contact us by e-mail via the Service Center Research Data, book an appointment or take advantage of our training opportunities.