FAIR data
The FAIR principles play a central role in describing and making research data available. Many research funders refer to them in their guidelines.
Tools for measuring “FAIRness” in research outputs are based on the principles. FAIR is an acronym for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable.
Findable
Data can be searched and found. What is this data and who is responsible for it?
F1. (Meta)data are assigned a globally unique and persistent identifier
F2. Data are described with rich metadata (defined by R1 below)
F3. Metadata clearly and explicitly include the identifier of the data they describe
F4. (Meta)data are registered or indexed in a searchable resource
Accessible
The possibilities and limitations of access to data are well defined.
A1. (Meta)data are retrievable by their identifier using a standardised communications protocol
A1.1 The protocol is open, free, and universally implementable
A1.2 The protocol allows for an authentication and authorisation procedure, where necessary
A2. Metadata are accessible, even when the data are no longer available
Interoperable
It clear how data is organized and what metadata is available, so that data can be analyzed and used in multiple systems. For data and metadata to be interoperable, they must comply with accepted standards, ontologies and vocabulary. Data should also be saved, if possible, in common file formats.
I1. (Meta)data use a formal, accessible, shared, and broadly applicable language for knowledge representation.
I2. (Meta)data use vocabularies that follow FAIR principles
I3. (Meta)data include qualified references to other (meta)data
Reproducible
Data is well documented and it is stated under what conditions and type of license the data can be used.
R1. (Meta)data are richly described with a plurality of accurate and relevant attributes
R1.1. (Meta)data are released with a clear and accessible data usage license
R1.2. (Meta)data are associated with detailed provenance
R1.3. (Meta)data meet domain-relevant community standards
See also:
- Making research data accessible and FAIR criteria Swedish Research Concil
- GO FAIR
- The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship. – Wilkinson et al. (2016) Scientific Data. Vol. 3, Article nr. 160018.
DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2016.18