Managing information access through documentation of the data base: characterizing social science data base text documentation as a minimal information management system

Abstract

If data are to be accessed, text documentation must adequately describe the processes of data collection, development, testing and evaluation of the file in order that analysis of the data file can be adequately performed. Text documentation can be conceptualized as a minimal information system with the functions of providing a conceptual framework for the collection process, communication and coordination of processing staff, historical reference, general instruction for communication between specialist and non-specialist, and a report on successful output. Text documentation has three components: source, codebook and technical. This discussion focuses only on the components of source and codebook documentation.