Skip to content
One6
Resources

Data specification template

Every reliable dataset starts with a written specification. Use these fields to agree what good data looks like before a pilot starts, then measure every batch against them.

1. Project overview

What the data is for and how success will be judged.

  • Project name and owner
  • The model and the behavior this data should improve or measure
  • How the data will be used: training, fine-tuning or evaluation
  • The question the pilot must answer

2. Data format

Exactly what each delivered item looks like.

  • Modality: text, audio, image, video or other
  • File format and structure, with one example item
  • Required metadata fields
  • Technical requirements, such as audio sample rate or image resolution

3. Contributor profile

Who should produce or review the data.

  • Languages and regional varieties
  • Domain expertise and level required
  • Demographic coverage, such as accents, ages or regions
  • Any screening or qualification requirements

4. Guidelines

The instructions contributors follow.

  • Task instructions in plain language
  • Label taxonomy or rating rubric
  • Worked examples of good and bad items
  • How edge cases and unclear items should be handled

5. Quality and acceptance

How quality will be measured and what passes.

  • Acceptance criteria for a single item
  • Quality checks: gold-standard items, sampling, agreement
  • Minimum quality level required to scale
  • Who on your team reviews output, and how often

6. Volume and timeline

How much data, and when.

  • Pilot size and target date
  • Production volume and delivery schedule
  • Batch size and delivery format

7. Data rights and confidentiality

Terms to agree before work begins.

  • Ownership and permitted use of delivered data
  • Consent requirements for voice, image or personal data
  • Confidentiality and NDA requirements
  • Tooling: your platform or the provider's

Planning the pilot itself? Read how to plan a human data pilot.

Have a data project in mind?

Tell us what your model needs. We'll come back with questions, a proposed approach and a pilot plan.