Which element is NOT typically included in a metadata record?

Metadata records are structured summaries of data that provide essential information about that data set, enhancing its usability and understanding. Typically, metadata includes elements like author information, data sources, and sometimes software versions that indicate the tools or systems used to create the data.

The inclusion of these elements serves critical functions:

• Author information assists in accountability and citation, indicating who created the data and their credentials.

• The data source provides insight into where the data was obtained, ensuring transparency and facilitating validation by users.

• Software version can be important for reproducibility and compatibility, as different versions of software might yield varying results depending on data processing methods.

Detailed user instructions, while helpful for understanding how to interact with or analyze the data, are not standard elements included in metadata records. Instead, metadata tends to focus on the 'who,' 'what,' 'when,' and 'where' of the data rather than providing explicit instructions for users, which can vary widely depending on the audience's expertise and the nature of the data. Therefore, detailed user instructions are less likely to be found in a typical metadata record, focusing instead on providing a foundational context for the data itself.