Request for feedback: New “Connections” network graph in DataCite Commons

[codycooperross]

A new visualization tool in DataCite Commons

DataCite is introducing a new “Connections” network graph in DataCite Commons, and we’d love to hear your feedback on this new visualization tool! The graph is now available on all Works pages.

To highlight the diversity of research outputs and their interconnectedness, the force-directed network graph uses DOI related identifier metadata to visualize the connections among resource types connected to a DOI. Works and connections are grouped by resource type to allow for a broader visualization of the connections within the DataCite data file.

Start exploring the “Connections” network graph by:

• Visiting an example Work page for a Project DOI in Commons
• Consulting our Support documentation about the graph

Providing feedback

We’re looking into future enhancements to the network graph and we’re eager to hear how we can best support your needs and use cases. Contribute your feedback using the suggestion form or by leaving a comment on this post. You’re welcome to reply by answering any of the questions below:

• How are you using the network graph?
• What would you change about the graph as it exists now?
• When you visit a Work page in Commons, what information, visualizations, or reports do you hope to see that aren’t there yet?

[adambuttrick]

Some feedback:

• The Connections graph describes relationships between objects, but there is a nearby UI element "Connection Types" for filtering to relationships of a different meaning/kind. Ideally, these would be better disambiguated, especially as they have some overlapping categories (i.e. Other)

• Perhaps separate, toggable graphs for connected objects vs. connection types, but even here there is opportunity for combine. For example, I could have a graph of connected types and when I click into say references, it reveals all related object types that reference (project, journal articles, etc).

• The overall absence of interactivity in the graph. For example, when clicking on "Journal Article," I would expect some other UI action to follow (e.g. a filter to be applied to the item list below, returning these items,) vs. simply being able to drag around.

[codycooperross]

Thanks, @adambuttrick —this is really helpful. I hear that there could be more clarity and a stronger representation of connection types in addition to connected objects. Interactivity could certainly help here. What are some ways that you're using the graph or hoping to use the graph?

[adambuttrick]

@codycooperross We use DataCite commons/this graph when we're demoing the value of ROR for institutional identification of datasets and data citation practices more broadly. Most recently, for some US federal government funding agencies.