Dictionary · Object templates
Object templates
Structured research-information business objects — Award, Book, Conference Paper, Patent, Person, and 118 more — each defined by its fields, types, and the picklists and dictionary terms they bind to.
What object templates are
The business objects of research information
An object template is a structured definition of a thing that research administration needs to record: an award, a publication, a conference paper, a dataset, a patent, an organisation, a person. Where a dictionary term defines a single concept and a picklist enumerates a controlled set of values, an object template assembles many fields into a complete record type — the shape of an “Award” or a “Book” as a research-information system would store it.
These 123 templates are retained from the legacy CASRAI Catalogue and re-published here as a reference for CRIS and RIM integrators building against systems such as Pure, Symplectic Elements, DSpace-CRIS, and VIVO. Each template page lists its fields, their data types, whether each field is required, and which controlled picklist or dictionary term the field is bound to. Everything here is published under CC-BY 4.0.
All object templates
123 templates
A4
APC Payment
An APC Payment records the financial transaction covering an article processing charge, including the amount, currency, and licence applied.
/dictionary/object/apc-paymentObject templateArtistic Exhibition
A showing of works of art staged under the direction of a curator, an artist, or presented as part of a graduation exhibition.
/dictionary/object/artistic-exhibitionObject templateAudio Recording
A recorded work such as classical or Indigenous music produced through an artistic practice, which may be commercially disseminated.
/dictionary/object/audio-recordingObject templateAward
Peer-reviewed funding that provides direct research costs to a recipient through a competitive funding award selection process.
/dictionary/object/awardB4
Book
A book written by a single author or collaboratively, based on research or scholarly findings generally derived from peer-reviewed funding.
/dictionary/object/bookObject templateBook Chapter
A text written by a single author or collaboratively, presenting research or scholarly findings, published as a chapter within a book.
/dictionary/object/book-chapterObject templateBook Review
A critical review of a work of fiction or non-fiction that highlights its contribution to a given art, field, or discipline.
/dictionary/object/book-reviewObject templateBroadcast Interview
A service contributed through a broadcast interview between the person and a member of the television or radio news media.
/dictionary/object/broadcast-interviewC16
Career Status
Key details about the current state and nature of an individual’s research career, including its stage and start date, are recorded.
/dictionary/object/career-statusObject templateCash Funder
Details of a past, current, or pending source of cash funding associated with a specific research activity or endeavour.
/dictionary/object/cash-funderObject templateChoreography
A dance composition created for production and public dissemination, recorded with its collaborators and performance dates.
/dictionary/object/choreographyObject templateCitizenship
A country of which the person holds a stated level of citizenship, together with details of that citizenship’s status and type.
/dictionary/object/citizenshipObject templateCommittee Membership
A service contributed as part of a group elected or appointed to perform duties unrelated to the person’s research activities.
/dictionary/object/committee-membershipObject templateCommunity Service
An unpaid service contributed on behalf of a locality, or a social, religious, or occupational group, unrelated to research activities.
/dictionary/object/community-serviceObject templateConference Abstract
A short text stating the issue addressed in a proposed conference paper, used to secure its acceptance and published with it.
/dictionary/object/conference-abstractObject templateConference Paper
A paper written alone or with collaborators, presented at an academic conference, and published in its conference proceedings.
/dictionary/object/conference-paperObject templateConference Poster
A poster displayed at a conference that conveys research highlights through compelling graphics, sometimes peer-reviewed.
/dictionary/object/conference-posterObject templateConference Reviewing-Refereeing
A reviewing or refereeing service contributed alongside a scheduled conference to examine and judge submitted conference works.
/dictionary/object/conference-reviewing-refereeingObject templateConsulting-Advisory
A consulting or advisory service that produced findings, conclusions, and recommendations for a client’s decision-making.
/dictionary/object/consulting-advisoryObject templateContract
A commissioned work funded by an external agency or industry partner, building on research expertise toward set deliverables.
/dictionary/object/contractObject templateCourse Developed
A record of a person’s contribution to developing an academic course or training module for teaching or instructional purposes.
/dictionary/object/course-developedObject templateCourse Taught
A record of a course taught by a person at an academic institution with which they are currently or were previously affiliated.
/dictionary/object/course-taughtObject templateCourse-based Degree Supervision
A record of overseeing a credit-seeking student’s research progress toward a course-based academic degree, as their supervisor.
/dictionary/object/course-based-degree-supervisionObject templateCuratorial-Museum Exhibition
An exhibit organized under a curator’s guidance, sometimes accompanied by a published catalogue and shown at several venues.
/dictionary/object/curatorial-museum-exhibitionD6
Data Set
A series of structured observations, measurements, or facts identified from research and stored in a database medium.
/dictionary/object/data-setObject templateDegree
An academic title conferred by an institution marking completed study, or granted as an honorary recognition of achievement.
/dictionary/object/degreeObject templateDictionary Entry
An entry documenting a new word, a new meaning of an existing word, or a change in spelling, hyphenation, or grammar over time.
/dictionary/object/dictionary-entryObject templateDisclosure
A publication that establishes an invention as prior art, preventing others from patenting the same invention or concept.
/dictionary/object/disclosureObject templateDissertation
Records the treatise a doctoral candidate submits to satisfy a degree, including its title, supervisor, institution, and completion date.
/dictionary/object/dissertationObject templateDistinction
Records an award or other distinction conferred on a person, including its type, awarding institution, country, and effective date.
/dictionary/object/distinctionE9
Records an electronic mail address at which a person can be contacted, including its type and period of validity.
/dictionary/object/e-mailObject templateEdited Book
Records a book edited by a person, alone or with others, generally for disseminating research from peer-reviewed funding.
/dictionary/object/edited-bookObject templateEditorial
Records a contribution providing an opinion statement on a topic, published as an editorial in a periodical or outlet.
/dictionary/object/editorialObject templateEmployee Supervision
Records services contributed in overseeing the productivity and progress of an employee reporting directly to the person.
/dictionary/object/employee-supervisionObject templateEncyclopedia Entry
Records an authored entry in a reference work covering a particular domain or the branches of knowledge generally.
/dictionary/object/encyclopedia-entryObject templateEvent Administration
Records services contributed to the planning, organization, coordination, and staging of a public event.
/dictionary/object/event-administrationObject templateEvent Participation
Records services contributed by a person in taking part in an event, including the event’s type, description, and date.
/dictionary/object/event-participationObject templateExhibition Catalogue
Records a publication documenting a temporary exhibition or installation at a gallery or alternative space.
/dictionary/object/exhibition-catalogueObject templateExpert Witness
Records services a person contributed to a legal proceeding as an expert witness, including the case and jurisdiction.
/dictionary/object/expert-witnessF1
G3
Graduate Examination
Records services contributed to examine a graduate degree candidate’s work and formulate a judgement on it.
/dictionary/object/graduate-examinationObject templateGrant
A grant is peer-reviewed research funding, awarded through a competitive process, that covers the direct costs of a project
/dictionary/object/grantObject templateGrant Application Assessment
Records services contributed to appraise grant applications, formulate a judgement, and state that judgement.
/dictionary/object/grant-application-assessmentH1
I4
In-kind Funding
In-kind Funding records non-monetary contributions to a research activity, including the funding source, program, and type
/dictionary/object/in-kind-fundingObject templateInstitutional Review
Institutional Review records a service, conducted in conjunction with an institutional assessment, to examine and judge something formally
/dictionary/object/institutional-reviewObject templateInternal OA Cost Application
An Internal OA Cost Application is a request from an author or institutional representative for advice on open access publication costs
/dictionary/object/internal-oa-cost-applicationObject templateInvention
An Invention is a practical and original output of research, recorded with a description, its intended audience, and its release date
/dictionary/object/inventionJ3
Journal Article
A Journal Article is a peer-reviewed publication that disseminates the results of original research and scholarship to a field
/dictionary/object/journal-articleObject templateJournal Issue
A Journal Issue is a periodical publication issue, identified by a unique reference number, that fosters intellectual debate and inquiry
/dictionary/object/journal-issueObject templateJournal Reviewing-Refereeing
Journal Reviewing-Refereeing records a service to examine a journal submission, formulate a judgement, and issue a statement of that judgement
/dictionary/object/journal-reviewing-refereeingL4
Language Competency
Language Competency lists the languages in which a person has a level of competency, together with an indication of that level
/dictionary/object/language-competencyObject templateLicense
A License is a signed agreement to exploit a piece of intellectual property such as a process, product, dataset, or software
/dictionary/object/licenseObject templateLight Design
Light Design records creative work done within theatre or an art installation to design the lighting for a production, show, or event
/dictionary/object/light-designObject templateLitigation
Litigation records the act or process of contesting at law, including the case name, court, key legal issues, and the year the matter was heard
/dictionary/object/litigationM7
Magazine Article
A Magazine Article is an article in a thematic publication issued at fixed intervals, identified by its title, authors, and issue
/dictionary/object/magazine-articleObject templateMailing Address
A structured record of a postal address, including start and end dates, used to identify where a person can receive mail or courier deliveries.
/dictionary/object/mailing-addressObject templateManual
A record of course and assignment materials produced for teaching, including authorship, publisher, edition, and volume details.
/dictionary/object/manualObject templateMembership
A record of a person’s service contribution as a member of a society, community, or other body, including start and end dates.
/dictionary/object/membershipObject templateMentoring
A record of a mentoring relationship, capturing the protege, the topic covered, and the dates over which the mentorship took place.
/dictionary/object/mentoringObject templateMusical Composition
A record of an original musical score prepared in a format suitable for dissemination, including instrumentation and publisher details.
/dictionary/object/musical-compositionObject templateMusical Performance
A record of a musical performance, including the work performed, the performer’s role, venue, and dates of first and later performances.
/dictionary/object/musical-performanceN4
Newsletter Article
A record of an article published in a newsletter aimed at researchers, decision-makers, professionals, and the public, reporting on research activity.
/dictionary/object/newsletter-articleObject templateNewspaper Article
A record of an article published in a newspaper reporting on news or social issues, optionally including expert critical analysis.
/dictionary/object/newspaper-articleObject templateNon HE Employment
A record of a person’s employment in a non-academic organization, including the position held, the employer, and the dates of employment.
/dictionary/object/non-he-employmentObject templateNon-research Presentation
A record of a presentation given to a group that is not directly related to the presenter’s research or a formal course of study.
/dictionary/object/non-research-presentationO3
Office Held
A record of a position of duty or function held by a person within an institution or organization, with its start and end dates.
/dictionary/object/office-heldObject templateOnline Resource
A record of information accessible only on the web, reached through hyperlinks rather than through a physical or print publication format.
/dictionary/object/online-resourceObject templateOther Study
A record of training or coursework undertaken by a person that falls outside the scope of their formal degree program of study.
/dictionary/object/other-studyP19
Patent
A record of a patent, the exclusive legal right granted to inventors or assignees to exploit an invention for a limited time.
/dictionary/object/patentObject templatePerformance Art
Performance Art is a CASRAI object template recording an avant-garde or conceptual music, dance, or theatre work performed for an audience.
/dictionary/object/performance-artObject templatePerson Info
Person Info is a CASRAI object template capturing the core identifying details of a person, including name, date of birth, and gender.
/dictionary/object/person-infoObject templatePersonal Leave of Absence
Personal Leave of Absence is a CASRAI object template recording a gap in a person’s employment history attributed to a personal reason.
/dictionary/object/personal-leave-of-absenceObject templatePhone Number
Phone Number is a CASRAI object template recording the telephone or facsimile numbers at which a person can be contacted.
/dictionary/object/phone-numberObject templatePrincipal Investigator
Principal Investigator is a CASRAI object template identifying the researcher who leads and takes responsibility for a research activity.
/dictionary/object/principal-investigatorObject templateProfessional Designation
Professional Designation is a CASRAI object template recording a credential earned to qualify a person to perform a job or task.
/dictionary/object/professional-designationObject templateProfessional Leave of Absence
Professional Leave of Absence is a CASRAI object template recording a gap in a person’s employment history attributed to a professional reason.
/dictionary/object/professional-leave-of-absenceObject templateProgram Developed
Program Developed is a CASRAI object template recording a contribution consisting of the development of an entire course of study.
/dictionary/object/program-developedObject templateProject
A research project conducted by an institution, identified by its name and an institution-assigned internal identifier.
/dictionary/object/projectObject templateProject Budget
Project Budget is a CASRAI object template recording the projected revenues and expenditures for a research activity’s budget items.
/dictionary/object/project-budgetObject templateProject HQP Training
Project HQP Training is a CASRAI object template recording highly qualified personnel who will receive training as part of a research activity.
/dictionary/object/project-hqp-trainingObject templateProject Info
Project Info is a CASRAI object template recording the details that allow unique identification and classification of a research activity.
/dictionary/object/project-infoObject templateProject Milestone
Project Milestone is a CASRAI object template recording a scientific milestone projected to be reached during a research activity.
/dictionary/object/project-milestoneObject templateProject Overview
Project Overview is a CASRAI object template recording the stated objectives, scope, and methodology of a research activity.
/dictionary/object/project-overviewObject templateProject Participant
Project Participant is a CASRAI object template recording the CV details and institutional affiliation of a research activity’s personnel.
/dictionary/object/project-participantObject templateProject Partner
A partner organization contributing cash or in-kind resources to a research project, tracked with contact and collaboration details.
/dictionary/object/project-partnerObject templateProject Risk
A risk identified for a research activity, recording its type, probability, impact, and mitigation or monitoring strategy.
/dictionary/object/project-riskObject templatePromotion-Tenure Assessment
Services contributed to a promotion or tenure application, examining a candidate’s record and producing a documented judgement.
/dictionary/object/promotion-tenure-assessmentR14
Radio-TV Program
Programming produced for and broadcast on radio or television, recorded as a research output with its series and broadcast details.
/dictionary/object/radio-tv-programObject templateReference
A letter or statement from a referee expressing support for the senior personnel named in a research activity application.
/dictionary/object/referenceObject templateRegistered Copyright
Registered ownership of rights in an artistic, literary, musical, or dramatic work under a copyright registration system.
/dictionary/object/registered-copyrightObject templateReport
A report disseminating the outcomes and deliverables of a research contract, recorded with authorship and publication details.
/dictionary/object/reportObject templateResearch Dataset
A set of data used for research purposes, described with its storage, access, preservation, licensing, and sharing arrangements.
/dictionary/object/research-datasetObject templateResearch Dataset Contributor
A role played by a person or group in the capture or preservation of a research dataset, identified by name and ID type.
/dictionary/object/research-dataset-contributorObject templateResearch Location
A specific place where a research activity is actively conducted, recorded with its geolocation and share of effort.
/dictionary/object/research-locationObject templateResearch Technique
A practical method or skill applied to a particular task identified as part of a research activity’s methodology.
/dictionary/object/research-techniqueObject templateResearch Tool
A resource such as a bibliography, index, catalogue, or scholarly edition that facilitates access to research materials.
/dictionary/object/research-toolObject templateResearch-based Degree Supervision
Services contributed in overseeing the progress of a student pursuing a research-based academic degree, under direct report.
/dictionary/object/research-based-degree-supervisionObject templateReview
Records an expert assessment of a scholarly output, including who convened it, its type, completion date, and a link to it.
/dictionary/object/reviewObject templateReview Subject
Identifies the specific manuscript, dataset, or other scholarly object under review, including its container, type, title, and unique identifier.
/dictionary/object/review-subjectObject templateReviewer
Identifies an expert who participates in a review of a scholarly output, recording their name, unique identifier, and role in that review.
/dictionary/object/reviewerObject templateReviewer Suggestion
Captures a suggested reviewer for a funding merit review, including contact details, conflict status, and whether to include or exclude them.
/dictionary/object/reviewer-suggestionS8
Script
Records a written script for a play, film, or broadcast production, including its title, co-authors, and completion date.
/dictionary/object/scriptObject templateSet Design
Records the design of theatrical, film, or television scenery created for a specific show, including collaborators, venue, and opening date.
/dictionary/object/set-designObject templateShort Fiction
Records an original literary work of prose or poetry, including its publication details, co-authors, and research classification.
/dictionary/object/short-fictionObject templateSignature
Records that a required institutional or partner signature has been obtained for an activity, including signatory identity and signature date.
/dictionary/object/signatureObject templateSound Design
Records the design of audio elements for a theatrical, film, or musical production, including collaborators, venue, and opening date.
/dictionary/object/sound-designObject templateSpin Off Company
Records a company established by a research organization to commercialize the results and findings of a research project, including its status and size.
/dictionary/object/spin-off-companyObject templateStandard or Policy
Records the development of a rule or principle used as a basis for judgement, including its title, description, and publication date.
/dictionary/object/standard-or-policyObject templateSupervised Student Publication
Records a publication co-authored with, or supervised by, a thesis advisor, arising from a student’s or supervisor’s research program.
/dictionary/object/supervised-student-publicationT8
Team Capacity
Records an assessment of a project team’s capacity to deliver its expected results, covering collaboration, training, and past outputs.
/dictionary/object/team-capacityObject templateTechnical Standard
Records a technical standard originating from a research project, including new protocols, methods, or materials it establishes.
/dictionary/object/technical-standardObject templateTest
A standardized assessment instrument developed by a researcher for university admission, course selection, or other evaluation purposes.
/dictionary/object/testObject templateText Interview
A record of a researcher’s contribution to a print or online media outlet, given in the form of a published text interview.
/dictionary/object/text-interviewObject templateTheatric
A record of a play’s creation, production, and dissemination by professional theatre artists, including venues and performance dates.
/dictionary/object/theatricObject templateTopic
Topic identifies the specific area of concentration that a person has chosen within their broader field of research, study, or professional practice.
/dictionary/object/topicObject templateTrademark
A registered mark, such as a name, logo, or symbol, that identifies the source of a product or service and grants rights over its use.
/dictionary/object/trademarkObject templateTranslation
A translated edition of a book or article that notes any modifications from the original, such as a new or revised preface.
/dictionary/object/translationV2
Video Recording
A film, video, or new media work produced through an artist’s creative practice, which may also serve a commercial purpose.
/dictionary/object/video-recordingObject templateVisual Artwork
A visual artwork such as film, video, or new media developed through an artistic practice, which may also serve a commercial purpose.
/dictionary/object/visual-artworkW3
Web Address
A web address at which a person maintains an online presence connected to their research activities, such as a professional profile or lab page.
/dictionary/object/web-addressObject templateWebsite
A stand-alone website presenting multiple types of information on a specific theme, which may include interactive features for reader contributions.
/dictionary/object/websiteObject templateWorking Paper
A working paper is a preliminary version of an article that has not yet undergone formal peer review but may be circulated for comment.
/dictionary/object/working-paperFrequently asked
Object template FAQ
- What is a research information object template?
A research information object template is a structured definition of a business object used in research administration — an Award, a Book, a Conference Paper, a Patent, a Person, and so on. Each template declares the fields that describe that object, their data types, and any controlled picklists or dictionary terms those fields are bound to, so that research-information systems can exchange records about the object without manual mapping.
- How many object templates are there?
The CASRAI Dictionary currently publishes 123 object templates, retained from the legacy CASRAI Catalogue and re-published as a reference for CRIS and RIM integrators. They are listed in full on this page, alphabetically, each linking to its field-level definition.
- How do object templates relate to dictionary terms and picklists?
Object templates sit one layer above terms and picklists. A template (for example, Award) is composed of fields; each field can reference a dictionary term for its definition or a controlled picklist for its allowed values. Together they form the three layers of the CASRAI vocabulary: objects, terms, and picklists.
- Are the object templates free to reuse?
Yes. Like the rest of the CASRAI Dictionary, the object templates are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC-BY 4.0). You may reuse and adapt them in your CRIS, repository, or submission system, provided you give appropriate credit to CASRAI.
