Applying the Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) to MIDUS

描述（由申请人提供）：一个R03资助选项用于“开发新的研究技术”（美国国立卫生研究院项目公告PA-06-180）。根据这一选项，当前提案的主要目标是将一种称为数据文档倡议（DDI）的新文档标准应用于MIDUS（美国中年），这是一项针对7,000多名美国人的全国性纵向研究。DDI是2000年开始的一项国际努力，旨在标准化和扩展社会科学代码本的作用，目的是通过Internet提供它们。DDI使用一种称为可扩展标记语言（XML）的强大编程语言来创建代码本，这是对传统的基于文本的代码本的重大改进。2007年，MIDUS行政核心（威斯康星大学老龄化研究所）为MIDUS 2的项目1（包括2,400个变量和4,963个参与者）创建了一个DDI代码本。该提案的具体目标是：(1)采用剩余MIDUS 2数据的标准（项目2-5），并使第一波MIDUS（1995-96）的数据符合DDI标准；(2)在可能的情况下，通过电子记录所有支持元数据（创建指向支持文件的超链接）来增强DDI代码本的范围；(3)利用DDI的特性，通过在线分析程序整合第1波和第2波数据和元数据，阐明MIDUS的纵向性质。这些目标将适用于：项目2（4000个变量，1400名参与者），它涉及对生活压力源及其情绪反应的日常评估；项目3（2400个变量，4500名参与者），涉及基于手机的认知电池的管理和对认知能力的深入实验室评估；项目4（3000个变量，1550名参与者），涉及综合生物标志物（神经内分泌、心血管和免疫）的收集；项目5（1000个变量，400名参与者），涉及神经学评估（脑电图、神经成像）。为上述项目以及MIDUS 1创建DDI码本的程序包括：(1)通过一个名为Nesstar Publisher的特殊软件包处理每个项目的最终数据集，该软件包创建符合DDI的XML文件；(2)在单独的数据库中积累数据集中未包含的任何附加信息（问卷调查、实地报告等）；(3)将两个数据源（nesstar派生的XML文件和附加元数据数据库）集成到一个代码本中，并创建一个演示文稿，其中包括指向包含跳过模式的交叉引用变量的链接和指向单独文档文件的超链接。这些目标将在两年的时间内完成，按照项目2到项目5完成数据收集的顺序时间表。公共卫生相关性：拟议的项目将提高公众对国家老龄化生物心理社会研究的效率和效果。通过使用强大的基于web的编程语言，数据文档计划（DDI）创建了交互式和全面的文档，这是对传统的基于文本的文档的重大改进。采用这项技术将使MIDUS研究对来自美国和其他不同领域的研究人员的有用性最大化。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): One R03 funding option is for "development of new research technology" (National Institutes of Health Program Announcement PA-06-180). Pursuant to this option, the primary objective of the current proposal is to apply a new documentation standard called the Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) to MIDUS (Midlife in the U.S.), a national longitudinal study of over 7,000 Americans. DDI is an international effort begun in 2000 to standardize and expand the role of social science codebooks with the intent of making them available through the Internet. The DDI uses a powerful programming language called eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to create codebooks that are significant improvements over traditional text-based codebooks. In 2007, the MIDUS Administrative Core (University of Wisconsin Institute on Aging) created a DDI codebook for Project 1 of MIDUS 2 (including 2,400 variables and 4,963 participants). The specific aims of this proposal are (1) to adopt the standard for the remaining MIDUS 2 data (Projects 2-5) and bring data from the first wave of MIDUS (1995-96) into DDI compliance; (2) to enhance the scope of DDI codebooks by electronically documenting all supporting metadata where possible (creating hyperlinks to supporting files), and (3) to exploit the features of DDI in order to clarify the longitudinal nature of MIDUS by integrating Wave 1 and Wave 2 data and metadata via online analysis programs. These aims will be applied to: Project 2 (4,000 variables; 1,400 participants), which involves the daily assessments of life stressors and emotional reactions to them; Project 3 (2,400 variables; 4,500 participants), which involves the administration of a phone-based cognitive battery and an in-depth laboratory assessment of cognitive capacities; Project 4 (3,000 variables; 1,550 participants), which involves the collection of comprehensive biomarkers (neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune); and Project 5 (1,000 variables; 400 participants), which involves neurological assessments (EEG, neuro-imaging). The procedures for creating DDI codebooks for the above projects as well as for MIDUS 1 include: (1) processing each Project's final dataset by a special software package called Nesstar Publisher, which creates a DDI-compliant XML file; (2) accumulating in a separate database any additional information not contained in the dataset (questionnaires, field reports, etc); (3) integrating the two sources of data (the Nesstar-derived XML file and the database of additional metadata) into a single codebook and creating a presentation which includes links to cross-referenced variables that contain skip patterns and hyperlinks to separate documentation files. These goals will be accomplished over a two-year period, following the sequential schedule for completion of data collection in Project 2 through 5. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed project will enhance the efficient and effective public use of a national biopsychosocial study of aging. By using a powerful web-based programming language, the Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) creates interactive and comprehensive documentation that is a significant improvement over traditional text- based documentation. Adopting this technology will maximize the usefulness of the MIDUS study to researchers from diverse fields in the U.S. and beyond.