# The role of metadata in reproducible computational research

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.08589 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.08589/

## Key facts

- Cited by 10 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 15 Jun 2020.

## Built on by (most cited first, 10 of 10)

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- [Standards in the Preparation of Biomedical Research Metadata: A Bridge2AI Perspective](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.10432/) (2025)
- [Optimizing Agricultural Research: A RAG-Based Approach to Mycorrhizal Fungi Information](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.14765/) (2025)
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## Abstract (arXiv)

Reproducible computational research (RCR) is the keystone of the scientific method for in silico analyses, packaging the transformation of raw data to published results. In addition to its role in research integrity, RCR has the capacity to significantly accelerate evaluation and reuse. This potential and wide-support for the FAIR principles have motivated interest in metadata standards supporting RCR. Metadata provides context and provenance to raw data and methods and is essential to both discovery and validation. Despite this shared connection with scientific data, few studies have explicitly described the relationship between metadata and RCR. This article employs a functional content analysis to identify metadata standards that support RCR functions across an analytic stack consisting of input data, tools, notebooks, pipelines, and publications. Our article provides background context, explores gaps, and discovers component trends of embeddedness and methodology weight from which we derive recommendations for future work.
