# FAIR research data: metadata, licensing and reuse

Decision workbook and teaching example · 2026-10-06

The completed case is fictional. Its values and decisions are not actual findings; complete your project using relevant permissions, methods and requirements.

- Project: ____________________
- Researcher and role: ____________________
- Date and version: ____________________
- Data seen before the decision: ____________________
- Aim and scope: ____________________

## Completed example

| Stage/decision | Example | Check or action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Findable | Public record and stable identifier | Enough discovery metadata? |
| Accessible | Permitted request process | Are conditions and responsibility clear? |
| Interoperable | Suitable units and standard codes | Can users interpret variables? |
| Reusable | Rights, provenance and quality | Are use limits stated? |
| Protection | Controlled sensitive data | Is openness distinguished from permission? |

## Complete your own record

| Topic | Actual decision and reason | Evidence link and status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Findable | __________ | __________ |
| Accessible | __________ | __________ |
| Interoperable | __________ | __________ |
| Reusable | __________ | __________ |
| Protection | __________ | __________ |

## Completion checks

- [ ] Prepare metadata, access conditions and a permitted reuse package.

## Changes and limitations

| Date | Change | Data known at decision time | Reason | Consequence for claim | Reviewer |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ |

## Sources and further reading

- [Wilkinson et al. — The FAIR Guiding Principles (2016)](https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18)
- [Cornell Data Services — Data management](https://data.research.cornell.edu/data-management/)
- [Cornell Data Services — Writing READMEs for Research Data](https://data.research.cornell.edu/data-management/sharing/readme/)
- [DataCite — Persistent identifiers for research](https://datacite.org/)
- [Zenodo — Research repository](https://zenodo.org/)

Related guide: https://didgar-research-site1.vercel.app/en/guides/fair-open-data/