fields to consider a record as “complete” or we can verify that there are no contradictions in
the data. For further information on data quality and validation, you can check our guide
about database migration.
If we want our data to be reliable and comparable we need to be consistent when applying
the predefined standards.
Data dictionaries and thesauri
If we are going to work as a network we need a common language to ensure we are
referring to the same things with the same words. Each natural language has its own
vocabulary and grammar rules, so we need to develop the same to work with our data.
Thesauri are lists of terms that we create to reduce ambiguity and ensure consistency in
order to work with data. In the HR field, we need to categorize different aspects related to
HR and be sure that everyone involved in the data management understands the terms the
same way. For example, the perpetrator of a violent act can have different degrees of
involvement ranging from carrying out the act to failing to prevent an unlawful act. Using a
thesaurus with clear definitions about different degrees of involvement will greatly
minimize the subjectivity of the categorization process. If you want to learn more about
how to standardize vocabularies and define categories you can consult the HURIDOCS’
microthesauri collection or this guide on how to build reliable indicators on HR issues.
At the same time, we need certain rules on how to record data, especially if there are
several people involved in the process. The data dictionary provides information about
every field in the database: naming conventions, constraints, relationships, format, etc. The
following chart shows an example of a simple data dictionary which helps to record
information about a victim:
Attribute name Format
Required
Example
Victim’s name
(text) Surname, Name
Yes
Doe, Jane
Birth date
(date) DD/MM/YYYY
Yes
19/02/1970
Occupation
Select from: Occupation categories by
HURIDOCS
No
Legislators and
senior officials
Civil status
Select from: single, married, widowed,
No
divorced, living with common-law spouse,
Single
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