1.3 Determining Cost of Preparing Data for Access and Preservation

Cost of preparing a dataset will vary widely based on many variables, including the nature of the data and its format, how it was collected, the level of documentation and the potential method(s) of access.

Costs affiliated with deposit into a repository

Does the funding agency require deposit or access after a specific date? This timeline can create larger costs for creating documentation if it is a short deadline.
Will there be a fee associated with deposit?
Has the data been prepared to meet the repository's documentation requirements?

Cost affiliated with research

Documentation of data

Factor this cost into the funding structure. Developing adequate documentation during the research process is much less costly than doing it after the fact.

Confidentiality - if data is to be accessed at a later point, how much will it cost to "scrub" data of confidential components?
A period of time should be allotted in the research timeline for the preparation and organization of materials for later deposit.This time is usually the majority of the cost to the researcher as it relates to access and preservation.

Conducting a pretest or pilot will establish basic cost estimates of data creation and management which will help determine preparation for preservation and access costs.

Return to 1.0 Project Planning/application for funding

Proceed to 2.0 Project Preparation

Maintained by: Erin O'Meara, erino@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 11/10/2007