Optimising Data Discovery

Before your data can be used, it has to be discovered. Data discovery is the process by which users

- find data (on the web)

- assess the data to ensure it is fit for their intended purpose.

This is a relatively complex process that might look as follows:

- dataset search on Google Data Search;

- previewing the data on the website;

- opening the data in excel

- data visualisation in excel

- evaluation information search on Google

Consequently, supporting findability and sensemaking with best practices is key to data reuse.

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For more on data discovery journeys and how generative AI might change these, read the ODI and King's College London's research paper on 'Prompting Datasets'.