Codebook

A codebook explains all the concepts and/or variables that are present in the datafiles. This may include explanations on meaning, numerical values, range, units of measurement, sources (of for example questionnaires), classification schemes used, and/or labels of questions asked. A good codebook needs to be clear enough for a reader to be able to interpret and (re)use the data.

The format and look of a codebook is not set in stone and my vary depending on the information you provide. For example, you might want to use a table in a pdf file, because you want to add some sentences outside of the table in which you explain the reasons for missing values. You might also prefer to make a .csv file that looks something like this:

Codebook_example

Whatever style you choose for your codebook, please keep in mind that there are preferred formats in many repositories that might restrict your choice of format. For an example of such file formats, have a look at this list of preferred file formats provided by DANS.