Controlled Vocabularies

Standardized terms and values used throughout the DOCiD metadata schema

Resource Types

Resource Type Classification
Required Table: resource_types

Controlled vocabulary for classifying different types of research outputs and publications:

ID Type Description African Context Examples
1 Indigenous Knowledge Community-based traditional knowledge and practices Herbal medicine, Farming methods, Oral traditions, Craft skills
2 Patent Legally protected inventions or designs. Energy devices, Medical formulations, Water filters, Mobile apps
3 Cultural Heritage Tangible and intangible cultural expressions preserved across generations Monuments, Traditional dances, Rituals, Oral histories
4 Image Visual materials Satellite imagery, Cultural artifacts, Medical scans
5 Project Organized research or development activity with defined goals. Community health initiatives, Conservation projects, Education programs, Innovation hubs
6 Funder Entities providing financial support for research and development. Government grants, NGO funding, Corporate partnerships
7 DMP (Data Management Plan) Plans for managing data throughout its lifecycle Data storage, Data sharing, Data security

Creator Roles

Creator Role Types
Optional Table: creators_roles

Standardized roles for publication creators and contributors:

ID Role Description African Research Context
1 Innovator Leads development of new ideas, products, or methods. Tech startup founder, Social entrepreneur, Agricultural innovator
2 Director Provides overall leadership and coordination for a project. Research institute director, NGO project leader
3 Researcher Conducts or contributes to academic and applied research. Field researcher, Policy analyst, Academic staff
4 Principal Investigator Leads the research design, execution, and reporting. University research lead, Health study PI, Grant project head
5 Librarian Manages and curates information resources. University librarian, Repository manager, Knowledge officer
6 Vice Chancellor Provides strategic academic and institutional leadership. University head, Institutional executive leader
7 Deputy Vice Chancellor Oversees academic and research administration functions. Deputy VC for Research, Academic affairs administrator

Publication Types

Publication Categories
Required Table: publication_types

Classification of publication types for African research contexts:

ID Type Description Examples in African Context
1 Article Peer-reviewed or scholarly paper. African Science Journal, Kenya Medical Research papers
2 Book Chapter Section within an edited book. Chapters in African policy or education volumes
3 Proceeding Paper presented at a conference. Papers from African Union research summits or AIMS conferences
4 Monograph Scholarly standalone research work. Studies on African linguistics, heritage, or governance
5 Preprint Unreviewed version of a research paper. Working papers on AfricArXiv, institutional repositories
6 Edited Book Book with chapters by multiple contributors. Regional academic anthologies, edited cultural studies
7 Seminar Presentation or paper from a seminar event. University seminar series, policy roundtables
8 Research Chapter Chapter presenting specific research findings. Research chapters in institutional project reports
9 Review Article Critical summary of existing research. Reviews on climate change, public health, or education
10 Book Review Evaluation of a published book. Reviews in African Studies journals
11 Conference Abstract Summary of research presented at a conference. Abstracts from African science or health symposiums
12 Letter to Editor Short commentary or response to a publication. Correspondence in African academic journals
13 Editorial Opinion or perspective from editors. Editorials in African policy or development journals
14 Other Book Content Non-chapter book sections or content. Forewords, prefaces, or appendices in African books
15 Correction Erratum Correction to a published work. Errata in African research or institutional publications

Subject Classifications

Research Subject Areas
Optional Multiple classification schemes

Subject classification schemes relevant to African research:

African-Focused Subject Areas:

African Studies

  • African History
  • African Languages
  • African Literature
  • African Politics
  • Pan-African Studies

Agriculture & Environment

  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Climate Change
  • Biodiversity Conservation
  • Water Resources
  • Food Security

Health & Medicine

  • Traditional Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Tropical Diseases
  • Community Health
  • Maternal Health

Culture & Society

  • Indigenous Knowledge
  • Cultural Heritage
  • Traditional Arts
  • Oral Traditions
  • Community Development

Standard Classification Schemes:

  • UNESCO: UNESCO Nomenclature for fields of science and technology
  • Fields of Research (FoR): Australian Research Council classification
  • Library of Congress: Library of Congress Classification
  • Dewey Decimal: Dewey Decimal Classification
  • JEL: Journal of Economic Literature classification

Language Codes

African Languages (ISO 639-1)
Standard ISO 639-1 codes

Commonly used language codes for African languages and official languages:

Code Language Countries/Regions Speakers (approx.)
sw Swahili (Kiswahili) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, DRC 100+ million
ha Hausa Nigeria, Niger, Ghana 70+ million
yo Yoruba Nigeria, Benin, Togo 45+ million
zu Zulu (isiZulu) South Africa 12+ million
xh Xhosa (isiXhosa) South Africa 8+ million
af Afrikaans South Africa, Namibia 7+ million
am Amharic Ethiopia 25+ million
ar Arabic North Africa, Sudan 300+ million
en English Official in many countries Lingua franca
fr French West/Central Africa Francophone Africa
pt Portuguese Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau Lusophone Africa
Resource Type Property