The Dataverse Network Project

Your Research Center's Dataverse: Create a dataverse to provide easy and organized access to data in your field, to track and advertise data contributions that you fund, and to guarantee that your data has the widest possible distribution.

What is a dataverse?

A dataverse is a virtual archive where your center can organize and distribute data, and track its use. It ensures that all contributors receive formal citations for every data set deposited, which enables you to enforce and administer your center's policies and terms. It also can increase your center's web visibility via easy customization that brands your dataverse in the same style and format as your website.

How do I get a dataverse for my center?

Go to http://dvn.iq.harvard.edu and click “Create Your Own Dataverse”. (It takes less than a minute!) After your dataverse is created, you can upload any type of quantitative or qualitative data in any format, customize your dataverse to look like part of your website, and release it to public view. You can start work on your dataverse now, or e-mail us at dvn_support@help.hmdc.harvard.edu for help.

What are the features?

• Procure safe and permanent data storage in preservation format.
• Remove need to translate data when statistical software formats change.
• Obtain formal citations to your data, including globally unique identifiers and universal numeric fingerprints.
• Establish an unbreakable link between your data and related published work.
• Acquire easy ways for others to find your data and related publications.
• Share your data with everyone, those who sign your licensing agreement, or only those individuals you approve.
• Allow users to download data in any format and run many advanced statistical methods on-line.
• Provide access to selected studies or to a universe of data.

What is the Dataverse Network Software?

It’s a web application that serves out individual dataverses to scholars, research groups, journals, presses, scholarly organizations, departments, libraries, universities, and archives. IQSS developed it at Harvard and several sites, including IQSS, maintain permanent archives and run the necessary software and servers. Our software is open-source and free to use. See http://TheData.org for more information.