Potential Goals

Standard Naming Exercise

This page is being kept for reference purposes, but now we have actual ExerciseGoals which are actively maintained.

Potential Goals for Standard Name Exercise

It seems that the statement "Standardize variable names" actually encompasses several user goals. Below are descriptions of related user goals.

An important observation is that using best data management practices, the variable name is not the best way to accomplish many (most?) of these goals. ourschema provides some auxiliary mechanisms for achieving these goals. some of the ExternalStandards use other mechanisms.

The effort of this group should reflect the original definition of the problem ("standardize variable names"). But, we should consider the most reasonable approach toward meeting the corresponding goals as well.

1. Group Similar Measurements

Recognize that This-data-item is the same type of measurement as That-data-item.

I believe this is a big part of the AOSN goal. As Dorota describes the AosnTask she has, Jim wants the AOSN users who are talking about the same measurements to at least be using the same term for their measurements. So the notion is to establish a common dictionary of variables.

The question we might ask: How close to this ideal is it possible to get? What would be the best way to get there?

2. Search

Be able to search for, and find, data of interest.

The Federal Geographic Data Committee's (FGDC) metadata standard, for example, facilitates keywords to accomplish this.

3. Differentiating Data

Recognize that This-data-item is different than That-data-item.

4. Label Data

Be able to plot axis labels (or column headers) that appropriately describe the data item.

5. Automate Processing

Allow computers to work in domain-specific ways with data (not knowing ahead of time what the data is).

6. Infer Metadata

Be able to derive metadata (platform, date, etc.) about the data item.

Also a part of the AOSN goal.

7. Manage Units

Establish/recognize the units of a data item.