Data journals consist of data articles that describe how, why and when a dataset was collected and any derived data product.
According to Geoscience Data Journal, "a data paper describes a dataset, giving details of its collection, processing, software, file formats etc, without the requirement of novel analyses or groundbreaking conclusions. It allows the reader to understand the when, how and why data was collected and what the data-product is."
The structure of data descriptors usually consists of the following elements:
- dataset - it should have been previously deposited in a research data repository in accordance with FAIR rules and given a DOI identifier,
- description of the research - the goals of the research project (for what purpose the described data was collected),
- description of the content of the dataset - types of data, formats used, information on versioning of the dataset,
- methods - the method of data acquisition, information about the apparatus, conditions of measurement, etc.,
- reusability - specification of the licence under which the data were made accessible,
- value of the data - information about the uniqueness of the data, its usefulness to other researchers, and the value of its contribution to the current state of knowledge.
More information Data journals: A survey.