What does “Resources” mean in CRediT?

Resources is one of the 14 contributor roles in ANSI/NISO Z39.104-2022, the CRediT standard developed by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO). Its definition covers the physical and digital supplies a project depends on: study materials, reagents, patients, laboratory samples, animals, instruments, computing resources and other analysis tools. NISO’s example tasks show that the role is more than handing something over. It also covers preparing and transporting samples, keeping inventory, calibrating and maintaining equipment, and coordinating data storage and computing resources.

The boundaries follow NISO’s own descriptors. Performing the experiments or collecting data and evidence is Investigation, and securing the money is Funding acquisition. Recruiting participants is listed under Project administration, although patients also appear in the Resources definition, so the two can overlap. Digital infrastructure turns up under both Resources (managing access, coordinating storage) and Software (developing and maintaining it). A person who did several of these jobs can list several roles.