The design and development of a social science data warehouse: A case study of the Human Resources Development Data Warehouse Project of the Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

Paterson, Andrew

doi:10.2481/dsj.2.12

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…The authors, research methods, uses, and audiences of social science data sets are all highly diverse. Such heterogeneity makes database integration a theoretically informed interpretive process (Paterson, 2003). That is why we, as a discipline, should carefully develop and apply standards while working toward online data dissemination.…”

Section: Databases and Communicating Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A community approach to data integration: Authorship and building meaningful links across diverse archaeological data sets

Kansa

2005

Geosphere

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The ability to link and compare diverse archaeological data sets will catalyze innovative research of great scope and analytic rigor. However, information heterogeneity and limited budgets and information technology skills challenge data dissemination initiatives. This paper argues for new methods of community-based data integration pioneered by the University of Chicago's Extensible Markup Language (XML) System for Textual and Archaeological Research project (XSTAR). With XSTAR, data integration takes place in two steps: (1) syntactic-schematic integration: Legacy data sets are migrated for representation in the data structures described by the Archaeological Markup Language (ArchaeoML), and (2) Semantic integration: Mappings must be established between related terms and classes in each source database. Because the nuances of meaning are often very subtle, human experts must classify related items in each data set. Initial syntacticschematic mapping of data into XSTAR is simple and fast but occurs at a relatively abstract level of meaning. Nevertheless, this initial step can accommodate diverse archaeological (and other) data sets, and will facilitate community-led development of more semantically specific data integration. XSTAR hopes to enable multiple semantic data integration schemas to develop and keep pace with changing research agendas. though rooted in archaeology, this paper discusses challenges faced by many disciplines in encouraging more powerful diachronic and regional syntheses. ArchaeoML's highly generalized data model has applicability outside archaeology, especially with subdisciplines of the earth sciences yet to develop formal ontologies. In addition, because this is a community driven approach, incentives for community participation must be explored. Intellectual property and professional rewards are key factors in determining the success of online dissemination systems across many disciplines.

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Section: Databases and Communicating Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A community approach to data integration: Authorship and building meaningful links across diverse archaeological data sets

Kansa

2005

Geosphere

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“…If anything, the particular nature of archaeology, a discipline that straddles the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, further encourages a diversity of documentation needs and methods. Data, evidence, interpretations, and syntheses all have very different roles across this diverse community (for discussion of social science material, see Paterson 2003). Also, practical and budgetary factors external to scientific aims are very important in shaping documentation strategies.…”

Section: Challenges In Documenting Preserving and Sharing The Pastmentioning

confidence: 99%

Googling the Grey: Open Data, Web Services, and Semantics

Kansa

Burton

et al. 2010

Arch

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________________________________________________________________Primary data, though an essential resource for supporting authoritative archaeological narratives, rarely enters the public record. Lack of primary data publication is also a major obstacle to cultural heritage preservation and the goals of cultural resource management (CRM). Moreover, access to primary data is key to contesting claims about the past and to the formulation of credible alternative interpretations. In response to these concerns, experimental systems have implemented a variety of strategies to support online publication of primary data. Online data dissemination can be a powerful tool to meet the needs of CRM professionals, establish better communication and collaborative ties with colleagues in academic settings, and encourage public engagement with the documented record of the past. This paper introduces the ArchaeoML standard and its implementation in the Open Context system. As will be discussed, the integration and online dissemination of primary data offer great opportunities for making archaeological knowledge creation more participatory and transparent. However, different strategies in this area involve important trade-offs, and all face complex conceptual, ethical, legal, and professional challenges. ________________________________________________________________ RESEARCHSince Open Context is operated in the United States, the European Union's database protection laws are less applicable. Similar systems in the European Union would need appropriate policies to insure the legal reusability of database content. Résumé: Les données primaires, bien que sources d'information essentielles pour étayer les récits archéologiques faisant autorité, deviennent rarement de notoriété publique. L'absence de publication des données primaires est également un obstacle majeur pour la préservation du patrimoine culturel et pour les objectifs de gestion des informations culturelles. En outre, l'accès aux données primaires est un élément crucial pour contester les affirmations sur le passé et formuler d'autres interprétations plausibles. En réponse à ces préoccupations, les systèmes expérimentaux ont mis en oeuvre un certain nombre de stratégies pour soutenir la publication en ligne des données primaires. La diffusion de données en ligne peut être un outil puissant pour répondre aux besoins des professionnels de gestion des informations culturelles, établir une meilleure communication et développer des liens de collaboration avec des collègues dans les milieux universitaires, ainsi que pour favoriser la participation du public envers la documentation du passé reposant sur des recherches sérieuses. Cette étude présente la technologie de référence ArchaeoML et sa mise en oeuvre dans le système Open Context. Comme on le verra, l'intégration et la diffusion en ligne de données primaires offrent de grandes possibilités pour rendre la création des connaissances archéologiques plus participative et transparente. Toutefois, les différentes strat...

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“…For example, the particular nature of archaeology, a discipline straddling the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, necessitates a diversity of documentation needs and methods. Data, evidence, interpretations, and syntheses have different roles across this widely varying community (for discussion of social-science material, see Paterson, 2003). For example, one excavates and interprets a Paleolithic cave site differently from a Roman urban site.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%