The role of metadata in the statistical knowledge network

Metadata (data about data) is integral to many processes in the Statistical Knowledge Network (SKN). Recently, efforts such as the Semantic Web and others express the importance of metadata in supporting integration of information across multiple sources. Critical challenges in building the SKN are identifying what metadata is needed, and at what point in the cycle of production and use of statistical information it must be available, and establishing an architecture that supports metadata acquisition and use throughout the SKN. This article provides a research agenda in those areas, building on our current work in helping users to find the statistical information they need and understand what they find. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]