Documenting Georeferenced Social Science Survey Data: Limits of Metadata Standards and Possible Solutions

Abstract

In this article, we present documentation of the georeferenced social science survey data that are spatially linked to geospatial data attributes. We introduce the challenges of documentation, as different metadata standards are used for both data sources: social science survey data and geospatial data. In particular, we analyze the extent to which the social sciences metadata standard DDI Lifecycle is capable of incorporating the geosciences metadata standard ISO 19115. We find that the most challenging attributes to describe are those concerning the geographic structure of the geospatial data, especially if they stem from different sources. To navigate these issues, we developed and evaluated four workaround approaches which we demonstrate in a case study on the georeferenced German General Social Survey. Because not all of the approaches apply equally to every research project and institution, we provide a scheme to assist in making informed and weighted decisions.