Data Publication Practices

  • Posted on: 3 December 2012
  • By: Anonymous (not verified)
TitleData Publication Practices
Publication TypeMiscellaneous
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsHarper J
Corporate AuthorsCATO Institute
Abstract

The paper argues that US Open Data practices have not led to a substantial increase in transparency. It sets out a metod for assessing the effective openness of data from a range of governent institutions, using a case-by-case dataset-specific (qualitative) assessment (e.g. unique identifiers for people are good; even if website does not provide machine readable data).
Notes

Presents outline method for assessing openness of 'data' (in practice, often structured information about government business), covering: (1) authoriative sourcing; (2) consistent and complete availability; (3) machine-discoverability; (4) machine-readability;
Provides a context-sensitive assessment of the usability of the data in question, by discussing important areas of machine readability. For example, noting whether or not a website gives unique IDs to particular datasets.
Somewhat partisan analysis in places.

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