This [DATSETNAME] readme.txt file was generated on YYYY-MM-DD by [NAME] [help text is included in brackets, and can be deleted before saving] GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Title of Dataset 2. Author Information A. Principal Investigator Contact Information Name Institution Address Email B. Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information Name Institution Address Email C. Alternate Contact Information Name Institution Address Email 3. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date) [suggested format YYYY-MM-DD] 4. Geographic location of data collection [latitude, longiute, or city/region, State, Country, as appropriate] 5. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data 2. Links to publications that cite or use the data 3. Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data 4. Links/relationships to ancillary data sets 5. Was data derived from another source? yes/no A. If yes, list source(s) 6. Recommended citation for this dataset DATA & FILE OVERVIEW 1. File List [list all files (or folders, as appropriate for dataset organization) contained in the dataset, with a brief description] 2. Relationship between files, if important 3. Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package 4. Are there multiple versions of the dataset? yes/no A. If yes, name of file(s) that was updated i. Why was the file updated? ii. When was the file updated? METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data [Include links or references to publications or other documentation containing experimental design or protocols used in data collection] 2. Methods for processing the data 3. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data [include full name and version of software, and any necessary packages or libraries needed to run scripts] 4. Standards and calibration information, if appropriate 5. Environmental/experimental conditions 6. Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data 7. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR [FILENAME] [repeat this section for each dataset, folder or file, as appropriate] 1. Number of variables 2. Number of cases/rows 3. Variable List [list variable name(s), description(s), unit(s)and value labels as appropriate for each] 4. Missing data codes [list code/symbol and definition] 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used CREDITS Based on a template by Cornell University Research Data Management Service Group: https://data.research.cornell.edu/content/readme