Course Instructors:  

Arofan Gregory (Open Data Foundation – Tucson, USA)
Wendy L. Thomas (Minnesota Population Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
Joachim Wackerow (GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, Mannheim, Germany)

The Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) has produced an international XML standard for the use of lifecycle information about social, behavioral, and economics science data that informs the broad set of disciplines addressed in the social sciences. DDI facilitates the automation of documentation and production systems for the delivery of this data. This workshop is geared toward the staff of data producing agencies and archives. The five-day structure of this workshop provides the participants with an opportunity for in-depth assistance on the specialized features of DDI that are important to their organization’s activities.

New features in DDI 3 support:

• metadata capture from planning and production to dissemination and analysis
• reuse of metadata to drive subsequent production or analysis processes
• ISO 11179 compliant data registries such as question, variable, and concept banks
• grouping of study series for longitudinal and comparative research
• capturing comparative information for the creation of harmonized data
• improved capture of archival information for data organization and management

The workshop provides an opportunity for an in-depth look into the current release of DDI – version 3. The presenters are active in the Technical Implementation Committee (TIC) of the DDI Alliance: Arofan Gregory (XML standards expert), Wendy L. Thomas (chair of TIC), Joachim Wackerow (vice-chair of TIC). The workshop is organized in cooperation with the DDI Alliance. Further information on DDI 3 can be found here.

A tentative workshop outline is available here.

Participants are encouraged to bring documentation on their own studies and surveys. Such materials as codebooks, data dictionaries, classifications, and questionnaires as well as materials describing the processes where they are interested in incorporating DDI are useful. This material can be used as use cases in the discussion how to apply DDI and in hands-on exercises. Attendees should bring their own notebook computers if possible. Wireless Internet access is available. Ten computers are provided for 22 participants.

Intended audience: anyone interested in DDI, no prior knowledge of DDI or XML is required. Suggested reading is available here.

Location:

The workshop will take place at the Leibniz Center for Informatics, Schloss Dagstuhl, Wadern, Germany.

The location provides an intense working atmosphere in a relaxing environment. Further information about the venue can be found here.

The workshop will be start on Monday October 25^th 9:00 a.m. and will be end on Friday October 29^th 4:00 p.m. Participants are advised to arrive at Dagstuhl on Sunday October 24^th.

Registration:

Number of participants: 22

Language: English

The workshop fee is 500 Euro (reduced fees are possible – please contact us for details). Our workshop-invoice will be sent via letter mail about four weeks before the workshop. It can be paid  by bank transfer or by credit card (Master Card or VISA) then.

Kindly consider that travelling expenses as well as board and lodging are not included in the workshop fee. Accommodation at Dagstuhl including full board is 60 Euro/day/person and is payable in Dagstuhl while the workshop. They accept also Visa and Master Card and electronic cash via EC (Maestro) card. 

Registrants should send an e-mail to workshop-mannheim@gesis.org as early as possible so a reservation can be made for the workshop and accommodation (these workshops fill quickly). A maximum of two people per institution will be accepted. The e-mail should include full name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number. Special needs or requests should be indicated (like vegetarian diet, allergies, double room, etc.). An e-mail-confirmation will be sent after the receipt of the registration.