Metadata and Databases
Metadata is the term applied to information used to describe data; it’s broken down into three categories: descriptive, administrative, and operational. Descriptive metadata is the most common; it identifies and describes objects or entities. Administrative metadata helps organize data in large sets of records by quality, such as a name, date, or location. Operational metadata provides information on the functional requirements of a task. We need metadata to provide information on particular aspects of data; it is a critical element of all digital scholarship or research. Data has to be described and identified to be useful. "Without metadata, information in files would be like books without covers or title pages on shelves without labels.” (pg 53).
Classification is closely related to metadata. On a simple level, we need classification systems to name and organize digital files; there are more elaborate systems that name, classify, and encode information about objects/knowledge. Famous examples of classification systems include The Dewey Decimal System and The Library of Congress. Both systems utilize classification systems to sort through content.
Data is managed in a variety of formats, including databases. A database is an organized collection of data. There are diverse ways to layout databases, all of which pertain to the qualities of the information being organized. Configuring a database is an “intellectual task and has to be done to suit the needs of the project to which it is being put. Databases exist for years, even decades, and may have multiple contributors or users” (pg 74). Databases come in various forms, including flat, hierarchical, relational, and object-oriented.
The project I’m analyzing, The Valley of The Shadow, includes many databases with various data relating to the Civil War years. The databases also contain examples of administrative data; the user can filter the database according to location/subject/person, etc.
I enjoy the cat picture. Very useful in understanding metadata vs. data. The administrative data you referenced in your project is very interesting when you think of the tedious coding that had to be done in order to get the filter options just right. My DH project is on the Gun Violence Memorial Project (GVMP). The memorial utilizes descriptive metadata on its News tab showcasing different news articles on the topic of gun violence with the publication name, date, and author. The site's use of meta data makes the embedded links to articles easier to digest, and lets the viewer know where exactly they'll be taken upon clicking.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how you broke down the technical data of the website into reviewable portions for us to think on. After detailing the website's technical capabilities, you defined how those capabilities worked. Then, taking things to a broader perspective on data gives it further perspective into how this connects to the world at large. I also liked how you described your project at the end after first establishing your main points, giving extra emphasis to your main points. The site's format is lacking in flair, but it is rich in data, so it makes a lot of sense to focus your post on defining data.
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