The Dataverse Network Project sponsored by the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University.
Described on its homepage:
A repository for research data that takes care of long term preservation and good archival practices, while researchers can share, keep control of and get recognition for their data.
Dataverses currently in operation:
- Harvard Dataverse
- Odum Institute
- Dutch Universities (Utrecht, Tilburg, etc)
- UC Davis
- UC San Diego
- University of Copenhagen
- Department of Cross Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen
- European Union Democracy Observatory (Beta version)
- Ontario Council of University Libraries
- Thailand
One shortfall I hope is corrected quickly is the lack of searching across instances of the Dataverse software.
For example, if I go to UC Davis and choose the Center for Poverty Research dataverse, I can find: “The Research Supplemental Poverty Measure Public Use Research Files” by Kathleen Short (a study).
But, if I search at the Harvard Dataverse Advanced Search by “Kathleen Short,” or “The Research Supplemental Poverty Measure Public Use Research Files,” I get no results.
An isolated dataverse is more of a data island than a dataverse.
We have lots of experience with data islands. It’s time for something different.
PS: Semantic integration issues need to be addressed as well.