Social Science Data Services
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Data Services > Archiving > Metadata Standard: DDI

Metadata Standard: DDI

The Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) is an XML metadata standard for documenting social science data. Detailed information can be found on the DDI web site.

With the DDI, codebooks can now be created in a uniform, highly structured format that:

• is easily and precisely searchable on the Web,
• lends itself well to simultaneous use of multiple datasets, and
• will significantly improve the content and usability of metadata.

The five main sections of the standard, as listed in the XML Document Type Definition (DTD), are:

1. Document Description
2. Study Description
3. Data Files Description
4. Variables Description
5. Other Study-Related Materials 

More details can be found at the codebook DTD and the DDI Tag Library.

For information on how to utilize the DDI in documenting your data, contact the Data Services Librarian or the Metadata Services Unit.

For more information on metadata in the libraries, including other metadata schemas, see the Metadata Reference Guide.

This page was last updated on 10/03/07