Research data management services for a multidisciplinary, collaborative research project

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constanze Curdt ◽  
Dirk Hoffmeister
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Metadata Schema ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research Project ◽  
Project Data ◽  
User Friendly

Purpose – Research data management (RDM) comprises all processes, which ensure that research data are well-organized, documented, stored, backed up, accessible, and reusable. RDM systems form the technical framework. The purpose of this paper is to present the design and implementation of a RDM system for an interdisciplinary, collaborative, long-term research project with focus on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere data. Design/methodology/approach – The presented RDM system is based on a three-tier (client-server) architecture. This includes a file-based data storage, a database-based metadata storage, and a self-designed user-friendly web-interface. The system is designed in cooperation with the local computing centre, where it is also hosted. A self-designed interoperable, project-specific metadata schema ensures the accurate documentation of all data. Findings – A RDM system has to be designed and implemented according to requirements of the project participants. General challenges and problems of RDM should be considered. Thus, a close cooperation with the scientists obtains the acceptance and usage of the system. Originality/value – This paper provides evidence that the implementation of a RDM system in the provided and maintained infrastructure of a computing centre offers many advantages. Consequently, the designed system is independent of the project funding. In addition, access and re-use of all involved project data is ensured. A transferability of the presented approach to another interdisciplinary research project was already successful. Furthermore, the designed metadata schema can be expanded according to changing project requirements.

Research data management at a public university in Malawi: the role of “three hands”

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 467-485
Author(s):  
Winner Dominic Chawinga ◽  
Sandy Zinn
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Public University ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The University

PurposeConsidering that research data is increasingly hailed as an important raw material for current and future science discoveries, many research stakeholders have joined forces to create mechanisms for preserving it. However, regardless of generating rich research data, Africa lags behind in research data management thereby potentially losing most of this valuable data. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the research data management practices at a Malawian public university with the aim to recommend appropriate data management strategies.Design/methodology/approachThe study is inspired by the pragmatic school of thought thereby adopting quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire from 150 researchers and 25 librarians while qualitative data was collected by conducting an interview with the Director of Research.FindingsResearchers are actively involved in research activities thereby generating large quantities of research data. Although researchers are willing to share their data, only a handful follow through. Data preservation is poor because the university uses high risk data storage facilities, namely personal computers, flash disks, emails and external hard drives. Researchers and librarians lacked core research data-management competencies because of the lack of formal and information training opportunities. Challenges that frustrate research data-management efforts are many but the key ones include absence of research data management policies, lack of incentives, lack of skills and unavailability of data infrastructure.Research limitations/implicationsThe study's findings are based on one out of four public universities in the country; hence, the findings may not adequately address the status of research data management practices in the other universities.Practical implicationsConsidering that the university under study and its counterparts in Malawi and Africa in general operate somewhat in a similar economic and technological environment, these findings could be used as a reference point for other universities intending to introduce research data management initiatives.Originality/valueWith seemingly limited studies about research data management in Africa and particularly in Malawi, the study sets the tone for research data management debates and initiatives in the country and other African countries.

scholarly journals Building a research data management service for the London school of hygiene & tropical medicine

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 424-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth Knight
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Tropical Medicine ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
London School ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Time Investment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of work performed at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to set-up a Research Data Management Service and tailor it to the needs of health researchers. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the motivations for establishing the RDM Service and outlines the three objectives that were set to improve data management practice within the institution. Each of the objectives are explored in turn, stating how they were addressed. Findings – A university with limited resources can operate a RDM Service that pro-actively supports researchers wishing to manage research data by monitoring evolving support needs, identifying common trends and developing resources that will reduce the time investment needed. The institution-wide survey identified a need for guidance on developing data documentation and archiving research data following project completion. Analysis of ongoing support requests identifies a need for guidance on data management plans and complying with journal sharing requirements. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides a case study of a single institution. The results may not be generally applicable to universities that support other disciplines. Practical implications – The case study may be helpful in helping other universities to establish an RDM Service using limited resources. Originality/value – The paper outlines how the evolving data management needs of public health researchers can be identified and a strategy that can be adopted by an RDM Service to efficiently address these requirements.

Research data management: a conceptual framework

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 226-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimple Patel
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Level ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Data Life Cycle ◽  
Effective Manner

Purpose Research data management (RDM) is gaining a lot of momentum in the present day and rightly so. Research data are the core of any research study. The findings and conclusions of a study are entirely dependent on the research data. Traditional publishing did not focus on the presentation of data, along with the publications such as research monographs and especially journal articles, probably because of the difficulties involved in managing the research data sets. The current day technology, however, has helped in making this task easier. The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for managing research data at the institutional level. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses the significance and advantages of sharing research data. In the spirit of open access to publications, freeing research data and making it available openly, with minimal restrictions, will help in not only furthering research and development but also avoiding duplication of efforts. The issues and challenges involved in RDM at the institutional level are discussed. Findings A conceptual framework for RDM at the institutional level is presented. A model for a National Repository of Open Research Data (NRORD) is also proposed, and the workflow of the functioning of NRORD is also presented. Originality/value The framework clearly presents the workflow of the data life-cycle in its various phases right from its creation, storage, organization and sharing. It also attempts to address crucial issues in RDM such as data privacy, data security, copyright and licensing. The framework may help the institutions in managing the research data life-cycle in a more efficient and effective manner.

scholarly journals Research Data Management Initiatives at University of Edinburgh

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Rice ◽  
Jeff Haywood
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Public ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Online Tools ◽  
University Of Edinburgh ◽  
Future Direction

During the last decade, national and international attention has been increasingly focused on issues of research data management and access to publicly funded research data. The pressure brought to bear on researchers to improve their data management and data sharing practice has come from research funders seeking to add value to expensive research and solve cross-disciplinary grand challenges; publishers seeking to be responsive to calls for transparency and reproducibility of the scientific record; and the public seeking to gain and re-use knowledge for their own purposes using new online tools. Meanwhile higher education institutions have been rather reluctant to assert their role in either incentivising or supporting their academic staff in meeting these more demanding requirements for research practice, partly due to lack of knowledge as to how to provide suitable assistance or facilities for data storage and curation/preservation. This paper discusses the activities and drivers behind one institution’s recent attempts to address this gap, with reflection on lessons learned and future direction.

A systematic literature review on research data management practices and services

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Murtaza Ashiq ◽  
Muhammad Haroon Usmani ◽  
Muhammad Naeem
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Open Access Publishing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Data Management

Purpose Research data management (RDM) has been called a “ground-breaking” area for research libraries and it is among the top future trends for academic libraries. Hence, this study aims to systematically review RDM practices and services primarily focusing on the challenges, services and skills along with motivational factors associated with it. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review method was used focusing on literature produced between 2016–2020 to understand the latest trends. An extensive research strategy was framed and 15,206 results appeared. Finally, 19 studies have fulfilled the criteria to be included in the study following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Findings RDM is gradually gaining importance among researchers and academic libraries; however, it is still poorly practiced by researchers and academic libraries. Albeit, it is better observed in developed countries over developing countries, however, there are lots of challenges associated with RDM practices by researchers and services by libraries. These challenges demand certain sets of skills to be developed for better practices and services. An active collaboration is required among stakeholders and university services departments to figure out the challenges and issues. Research limitations/implications The implications of policy and practical point-of-view present how research data can be better managed in the future by researchers and library professionals. The expected/desired role of key stockholders in this regard is also highlighted. Originality/value RDM is an important and emerging area. Researchers and Library and Information Science professionals are not comprehensively managing research data as it involves complex cooperation among various stakeholders. A combination of measures is required to better manage research data that would ultimately move forward for open access publishing.

scholarly journals Research data management in Turkey: perceptions and practices

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsev Umur Aydinoglu ◽  
Guleda Dogan ◽  
Zehra Taskin
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Data Practices ◽  
The Subject

Purpose The massive increase in research data being produced nowadays has highlighted the importance of research data management (RDM) to science. Research data not only have to be cost effective but also reliable, discoverable, accessible, and reusable. In this regard, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceptions and practices of Turkish researchers on the subject of RDM. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was distributed to the academicians in 25 universities in Turkey, and 532 responses were gathered. Findings Results indicate that although Turkish researchers are aware of the benefits of data management, are willing to share their research data with certain groups, and have decent preservation habits, they express that they lack the technical skills and knowledge needed for RDM. In addition, no institutionalized support (staff, training, software, and hardware) is provided to researchers. Research limitations/implications A well-structured data strategy or policy that includes resource allocation (awareness, training, software/hardware) and is supported by Turkish research agencies is required for better data management practices among researchers in Turkey. Originality/value This is the first study that investigates the data practices of Turkish academics who produce around 30,000 scientific articles annually that are indexed by Web of Science. It contributes to the growing literature on RDM.

Knowledge management, research data management, and university scholarship

VINE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyline Makani
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Data Discovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research On Research ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Academic Scholarship ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to synthesize existing research on research data management (RDM), academic scholarship and knowledge management and provide a conceptual framework for an institutional research data management support-system (RDMSS) for systems development, managerial and academic use. Design/methodology/approach – Viewing RDMSS from multiple theoretical perspectives, including data management, knowledge management, academic scholarship and the practice-based perspectives of knowledge and knowing, this paper conceptually explores the systems’ elements needed in the development of an institutional RDM service by considering the underlying data discovery and application issues, as well as the nature of academic scholarship and knowledge creation, discovery, application and sharing motivations in a university environment. Findings – The paper provides general criteria for an institutional RDMSS framework. It suggests that RDM in universities is at the very heart of the knowledge life cycle and is a central ingredient to the academic scholarships of discovery, integration, teaching, engagement and application. Research limitations/implications – This is a conceptual exploration and as a result, the research findings may lack generalisability. Researchers are therefore encouraged to further empirically examine the proposed propositions. Originality/value – The broad RDMSS framework presented in this paper can be compared with the actual situation at universities and eventually guide recommendations for adaptations and (re)design of the institutional RDM infrastructure and knowledge discovery services environment. Moreover, this paper will help to address some of the identified underlying scholarship and RDM disciplinary divides and confusion constraining the effective functioning of the modern day university’s RDM and data discovery environment.

scholarly journals Recordkeeping and research data management: a review of perspectives

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Grant
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Historical Perspectives ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore a range of perspectives on the relationship between research data and records and between recordkeeping and research data management. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses literature in the field of research data management as part of preliminary work for the author’s doctoral research on the topic. The literature included in the review reflects contemporary and historical perspectives on the management and preservation of research data. Findings Preliminary findings indicate that records professionals have been involved in the management and preservation of research data since the early twentieth century. In the literature, research data is described as comparable to records, and records professionals are widely acknowledged to have skills and expertise which are applicable to research data management. Records professionals are one of a number of professions addressing research data management. However, they are not currently considered to be leaders in research data management practice. Originality/value Research data management is an emerging challenge as stakeholders in the research lifecycle increasingly mandate the publication of open, transparent research. Recent developments such as the publication of the OCLC report “The Archival Advantage: Integrating Archival Expertise into Management of Born-digital Library Materials”, and the creation of the Research Data Alliance Interest Group Archives and Records Professionals for Research Data indicates that research data is, or can be, within the remit of records professionals. This paper represents a snapshot of contemporary and historical attitudes towards research data and recordkeeping and thus contributes to this emerging area of discussion.

scholarly journals Research data management and openness

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosie Higman ◽  
Stephen Pinfield
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Data Sharing ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between research data management (RDM) and data sharing in the formulation of RDM policies and development of practices in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach – Two strands of work were undertaken sequentially: first, content analysis of 37 RDM policies from UK HEIs; and second, two detailed case studies of institutions with different approaches to RDM based on semi-structured interviews with staff involved in the development of RDM policy and services. The data are interpreted using insights from Actor Network Theory. Findings – RDM policy formation and service development has created a complex set of networks within and beyond institutions involving different professional groups with widely varying priorities shaping activities. Data sharing is considered an important activity in the policies and services of HEIs studied, but its prominence can in most cases be attributed to the positions adopted by large research funders. Research limitations/implications – The case studies, as research based on qualitative data, cannot be assumed to be universally applicable but do illustrate a variety of issues and challenges experienced more generally, particularly in the UK. Practical implications – The research may help to inform development of policy and practice in RDM in HEIs and funder organisations. Originality/value – This paper makes an early contribution to the RDM literature on the specific topic of the relationship between RDM policy and services, and openness – a topic which to date has received limited attention.

Research data management and research data literacy in Slovenian science

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polona Vilar ◽  
Vlasta Zabukovec
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
National Level ◽  
Public Domain ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Ethical Question ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Data Literacy ◽  
Research Data Management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences between scientific disciplines (SDs) in Slovenia in research data literacy (RDL) and research data management (RDM) to form recommendations regarding how to move things forward on the institutional and national level.Design/methodology/approachPurposive sample of active researchers was used from widest possible range of SD. Data were collected from April 21 to August 7, 2017, using 24-question online survey (5 demographic, 19 content questions (single/multiple choice and Likert scale type). Bivariate (ANOVA) and multivariate methods (clustering) were used.FindingsThe authors identified three perception-related and four behavior-related connections; this gave three clusters per area. First, perceptions – skeptical group, mainly social (SocS) and natural sciences (NatS): no clear RDM and ethical issues standpoints, do not agree that every university needs a data management plan (DMP). Careful group, again including mainly SocS and NatS: RDM is problematic and linked to ethical dilemmas, positive toward institutional DMPs. Convinced group, mainly from humanities (HUM), NatS, engineering (ENG) and medicine and health sciences (MedHeS): no problems regarding RDM, agrees this is an ethical question, is positive toward institutional DMP’s. Second, behaviors – sparse group, mainly from MedHeS, NatS and HUM, some agricultural scientists (AgS), and some SocS and ENG: do not tag data sets with metadata, do not use file-naming conventions/standards. Frequent group – many ENG, SocS, moderate numbers of NatS, very few AgS and only a few MedHeS and HUM: often use file-naming conventions/standards, version-control systems, have experience with public-domain data, are reluctant to use metadata with their RD. Slender group, mainly from AgS and NatS, moderate numbers of ENG, SocS and HUM, but no MedHeS: often use public-domain data, other three activities are rare.Research limitations/implicationsResearch could be expanded to a wider population, include other stakeholders and use qualitative methods.Practical implicationsResults are useful for international comparisons but also give foundations and recommendations on institutional and national RDM and RDL policies, implementations, and how to bring academic libraries into the picture. Identified differences suggest that different educational, awareness-raising and participatory approaches are needed for each group.Originality/valueThe findings offer valuable insight into RDM and RDL of Slovenian scientists, which have not yet been investigated in Slovenia.

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