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 4

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