Fundamental Science Practices Frequently Asked Questions
What USGS scientific information products must follow FSP?
How does USGS define peer review and what are the FSP peer review requirements?
How is approval granted and what documents at a minimum must be submitted to the approving official?
What is the foundation of FSP?
What Federal Government policies require the release of scientific data, and how does the USGS intend to meet these requirements?
What is considered USGS scientific software and what are the USGS requirements for releasing it?
What types of project progress information can be reported and why is that important?
The frequently asked questions (FAQs) represent a Bureau consensus to ensure interpretations of Fundamental Science Practices (FSP) policies are uniformly applied throughout the USGS. These FAQs provide further explanation of the FSP and related publishing policies, as well as describe the procedures and decision making necessary to meet the policy requirements.
FSP Background
FSP Background
Authorship
Authorship
Review
Review
Approval
Approval
USGS Publication Series
USGS Publication Series
Journal Publications
Journal Publications
Metadata
Metadata
Data
Data
Software
Software
Project Reporting and Cooperator Publications
Project Reporting and Cooperator Publications
Web Pages, Conferences, Abstracts, and Presentations
Web Pages, Conferences, Abstracts, and Presentations
Preprints
Preprints
The FAQs will be updated as necessary and changes in the form of additions or revisions are reflected by date (month/year) as they occur. Questions about the FSP that are not addressed here should be directed to gs_fspac@usgs.gov.
FSP Frequently Asked Questions
FSP Frequently Asked Questions
Filter Total Items: 207
Who can post approved USGS publication series scientific information products to the web? [084] Who can post approved USGS publication series scientific information products to the web? [084]
All USGS publication series scientific information products are posted to the web by SPN staff. Science Centers may link to and add USGS publication references in their project and center web pages. [Read more]
What is the FSP policy for the release of USGS science information in journals and other outside publications? [085] What is the FSP policy for the release of USGS science information in journals and other outside publications? [085]
As with information products released by the USGS, the review and approval requirements for external information products are governed by FSP. Refer to SM 1100.4 for policy on outside publications. [Read more]
May USGS authors use preprint servers to distribute their journal manuscripts? [086] May USGS authors use preprint servers to distribute their journal manuscripts? [086]
Yes, authors may use preprint servers in accordance with the guidance provided for preprints [Read more].
Where can I find additional guidance related to releasing USGS scientific data? [087] Where can I find additional guidance related to releasing USGS scientific data? [087]
Additional guidance is available on the USGS Data Management web page and the FSP web page.
What Federal Government policies require the release of scientific data, and how does the USGS intend to meet these requirements? [088] What Federal Government policies require the release of scientific data, and how does the USGS intend to meet these requirements? [088]
OSTP's February 22, 2013 memorandum Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research and OMB's memorandum M-13-13, Open Data Policy—Managing Information as an Asset require the release of scientific data. The Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research at the USGS provides information related to how the Bureau meets these OSTP and OMB requirements. [Read more]
If a non-USGS lead author does not release data collected using Federal funds, is the USGS coauthor responsible for providing public access to those data? [090] If a non-USGS lead author does not release data collected using Federal funds, is the USGS coauthor responsible for providing public access to those data? [090]
Regardless of authorship, if the research was federally funded, then the funding agency is responsible for providing public access to those data. [Read more]
What outlets are available for releasing data? [091] What outlets are available for releasing data? [091]
The preferred path for USGS data release is through USGS data repositories or portals (e.g. Science Base, NWIS, BioData) to ensure that the USGS maintains the authoritative copy of the data it releases. [Read more]
How are raw data handled? [092] How are raw data handled? [092]
Raw data refers to digital and nondigital data that are unprocessed and unverified. Raw data must be archived according to the USGS records disposition schedule, can be released as either provisional or approved data, and may be subject to FOIA requirements. [Read more]
What data qualify as USGS funded scientific data and therefore are subject to USGS open data requirements and must be released to the public? [093] What data qualify as USGS funded scientific data and therefore are subject to USGS open data requirements and must be released to the public? [093]
USGS-funded scientific data are data collected with federally appropriated funds provided to the USGS as part of the congressionally-enacted USGS budget. Data collected with funding from another Federal or a non-Federal cooperator/collaborator are not considered USGS funded data. [Read more]
Can tables, graphs, and other illustrations showing data that support the scholarly conclusions in a publication with USGS authors qualify as a data release? [094] Can tables, graphs, and other illustrations showing data that support the scholarly conclusions in a publication with USGS authors qualify as a data release? [094]
No. Representations of data in tables, graphs, plots, maps, and other illustrations in such publications cannot qualify as a data release because they do not comply with open data requirements described in the USGS Public Access Plan.
How is USGS scientific software released? [095] How is USGS scientific software released? [095]
Scientific software can be released as either approved or provisional software. Software can be released as a stand-alone product, as a separate product associated with another USGS scientific information product, or released in association with an outside publication. [Read more]
What are metadata? [096] What are metadata? [096]
Metadata describe where, when, and why the data were collected; who collected the data; what types of data were collected; what processes were used to create the data; what quality assurance controls were used; and where the collected data are located. [Read more]
Why do we need metadata for data? [097] Why do we need metadata for data? [097]
Metadata enable users to find, understand, and reuse the data. A metadata record is required for including data in the Science Data Catalog. [Read more]
What do metadata records look like? [098] What do metadata records look like? [098]
Examples of metadata for data include those found at https://sofia.usgs.gov/exchange/evapotrans/metadata.html and other examples on the USGS Data Management metadata web page.
How do I create metadata? [099] How do I create metadata? [099]
Various tools for creating metadata are available on the USGS Data Management metadata web page.
When do I create metadata? [100] When do I create metadata? [100]
Authors should develop an approach for compiling the metadata record at the data-management planning stage. Metadata creation should be started as soon as the project begins. [Read more]
I have a lot of data packaged in different datasets and databases. For what packages of data do I produce a metadata record? [101] I have a lot of data packaged in different datasets and databases. For what packages of data do I produce a metadata record? [101]
It depends on how the data will be used. You need a metadata record that describes the data package that will be cited, which is generally also the package that will be searched for in the Science Data Catalog and public search engines. [Read more]
Are metadata records required for any size dataset? [102] Are metadata records required for any size dataset? [102]
There is no established size for a dataset that prescribes when a metadata record is required. A metadata record may not be needed if results are presented in their entirety in a published table. However, if the table contains analytical or summary results, or records are extracted from a larger dataset, it is appropriate to have a metadata record for the larger dataset. [Read more]
Are metadata records needed for scientific datasets and databases that are provided by non-USGS authors and are subsequently included in USGS datasets, databases, or publications? [103] Are metadata records needed for scientific datasets and databases that are provided by non-USGS authors and are subsequently included in USGS datasets, databases, or publications? [103]
Generally, yes, because these items become part of USGS scientific information products. When incorporated into USGS information products, non-USGS datasets or databases need to comply with USGS data release requirements. Metadata records include a link to the original source data. [Read more]
Are the output data generated by a model simulation also subject to the metadata requirement? [104] Are the output data generated by a model simulation also subject to the metadata requirement? [104]
Yes, model simulation data that will be made publicly available through the data release process need metadata. [Read more]
Do summary data tables in scientific information products such as USGS publication series products or outside publications (for example, journals) need metadata? [105] Do summary data tables in scientific information products such as USGS publication series products or outside publications (for example, journals) need metadata? [105]
No. The data behind the summary table, however, if not also presented in the body of the product, will need metadata and will need to go through the data release process.