Figure 1: Left panel: study data usually comprise identifier, measurements (e.g. c-reactive protein (CRP), and process variables (e.g. examiner ID). In some cases metadata variables have to be added, if applicable metadata vary across observations.
Top right panel: selection of static metadata with 1:1 relation to columns of study data.
Bottom right panel: relations between study data, metadata, and links* between study data.
* Relations between two or more related study data variables should be defined in the metadata attributes, e.g. CRP-laboratory results and the examiner who drew the blood sample.