Open Data Format (ODF)

The goal of the project is to provide an open, non-proprietary data format enriched with additional information for the social sciences. The format is compatible with common statistical software and, at the same time, enables standardized access to the associated metadata. Special extensions for the statistical software allow data in this format to be used directly.

For Research Data Centres (RDC)

The Open Data Format (ODF) offers research data centers the opportunity to expand their existing range of conventional data products to include an additional form of data provision. Existing datasets can be converted to the ODF with relatively little effort. Using the available tools, research data centers can make their data accessible to a wider range of potential users while fully supporting the FAIR principles. The ODF’s standardized metadata schema, which is based on the DDI specification, ensures compatibility with the metadata standards used in common data repositories, thereby improving the interoperability of data products.

For Researchers

The Open Data Format enables researchers to process and analyze data in various software environments, thereby supporting an efficient and flexible workflow without reliance on paid software. Data users can continue to follow their established workflows. Furthermore, the ODF enables the provision of additional information that goes beyond the scope of conventional data formats, for example through links to data portals that are accessible directly from statistical software. With the increasing adoption of the Open Data Exchange Format, researchers benefit from improved opportunities for discovering, using, and further processing social science research data.