SELECTION AND APPRAISAL OF DATA


Selection and appraisal of data are central activities in data curation because they determine the quality, reliability and long-term value of data used for research, decision making and preservation (Niu, 2014). In data curation, selection refers to the process of identifying data that should be retained, preserved or shared while appraisal involves evaluating the significance, authenticity, usability and relevance of data. These processes are important because not all data generated during research have equal value and institutions often face limitations related to storage capacity, funding and long term preservation resources. Effective selection and appraisal therefore ensure that valuable datasets are maintained for future access and reuse while redundant or low quality data are excluded (Harvey, 2008).

Data curation scholars emphasize that appraisal should begin early in the research lifecycle rather than after data creation. According to Yakel (2007), proactive appraisal helps institutions identify datasets with enduring research, administrative or historical value before they become disorganized or inaccessible. This approach aligns with modern digital curation frameworks which stress continuous management of data from creation to preservation and reuse. Researchers and data curators typically assess datasets based on criteria such as relevance to research objectives, completeness, accuracy, uniqueness, legal requirements, ethical considerations and potential future reuse (Niu, 2014). These criteria help ensure that selected data support transparency and scholarly integrity.

The appraisal process involves evaluating the quality and reliability of data sources. Poorly documented or inconsistent datasets may reduce the credibility of research findings and limit opportunities for secondary analysis. (Higgins, 2008) notes that metadata plays a critical role in appraisal because it provides contextual information about how data were collected, processed and interpreted. Well structured metadata improves discoverability and enables future researchers to understand and reuse datasets effectively.

In addition, ethical and legal considerations strongly influence the selection and appraisal of data. According to (Harvey, 2008), sensitive information involving human participants, personal identifiers or confidential institutional records requires careful evaluation before preservation or sharing. Data curators must therefore ensure compliance with ethical standards, copyright regulations and data protection laws.

Technological considerations also affect appraisal decisions in digital environments. Wilkinson (2016) notes that data stored in obsolete formats or unsupported software systems may become inaccessible over time reducing their preservation value. Therefore, curators often assess the technical sustainability of datasets including file formats, interoperability and compatibility with repository systems. The FAIR data principles which promote that data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable, have become influential guidelines in modern data curation practices (Wilkinson, 2016). Applying these principles during selection and appraisal improves long term sustainability and accessibility of research data.

In conclusion, selection and appraisal of data are essential in data curation because they ensure that important, reliable and reusable datasets are preserved for future access.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3kw9_2lWxM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6s0BpxUlFo

 

REFERENCES

Harvey, B. R. (2008). Appraisal and Selection. In Digital Curation Centre.

 

Higgins, S. (2008). The International Journal of Digital Curation. 3(1), 134–140.

 

Niu, J. (2014). Appraisal and Selection for Digital Curation. International Journal of Digital Curation, 9, 65–82. https://doi.org/10.2218/ijdc.v9i2.272

 

Wilkinson, M. D. (2016). Comment : The FAIR Guiding Principles for scienti fi c data management and stewardship. 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18

 

Yakel, E. (2007). Digital curation. OCLC Systems & Services: International Digital Library Perspectives, 23(4), 335–340. DOI:10.1108/10650750710831466

 

 

 

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