Research Data Management: What is it and why is the Library & Archives Service involved?
1. Research Data Management
What is it and why is the Library & Archives Service involved?
Gareth Knight
RDM Support Service Project Manager
16 July 2012
2. What is Research Data?
"That which is collected, observed, or created in a digital form,
for purposes of analysing to produce original research results."
University of Edinburgh
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools‐departments/information‐services/services/research‐support/data‐library/data‐repository/definitions
“Data are facts, observations or experiences on which an argument,
theory or test is based. Data may be numerical, descriptive or visual.
Data may be raw or analysed, experimental or observational."
University of Melbourne
http://research.unimelb.edu.au/integrity/conduct/data/review
3. Research Data Collection
A Research Data Collection may include:
Contextual information on the research activity
Who performed the project? What questions did they seek to answer?
When did they perform it? How was it funded?
Data gathered or generated as part of the research process
Raw data gathered or generated
Processed data (e.g. normalised, anonymised value)
Contextual information on the gathered/generated data
Codebooks
Technical, structural, Provenance, Rights metadata records
E‐mails
Research Documentation that describe the research activity & conclusion
Interim/final reports,
published/unpublished papers,
Presentations
4. Why does digital data need to be
managed?
Data produced by a research project can have long‐term
value for purposes beyond that envisaged by the creator
Destruction/ corruption Data Rendering
What the heck is a file My colour coding changes
I/O error? when I use the latest
version of the software!
Data Loss Data Sharing
Where the heck did I Who is allowed to see the
put that file? data? How can it be
analysed?
UK Data Archive
Access issues
Where do I find an old Lack of context
What’s the latest version of
copy of that software this data? What the heck does
tool? this spreadsheet column
mean?
However there are risks...
5. Key drivers for data
management and publication
Funder Mandates Open Access/Data Studies
Give me your
data!!
Researcher Demand Research Scandals
6. What does LAS know about
Data Management?
Label & catalogue
Provide access & Organisational
support use Managed storage Structure
7. Research Data Management
Support Service
• Research Data Working Group set up
in Feb 2010 to determine how good
research practice could be promoted
in institution
• Three‐year project to establish a
Research Data Management
Support Service (RDMSS)
• Funded by Wellcome Trust
Infrastructure development fund
8. Documentation
Research Data Research Data Management
Management Roadmap Policy
9. Data Management Practices Survey
Survey project/group leaders, researchers, Data Managers,
and IT support staff
Key Questions
• What type of data do you create & store?
• How do you organise and label it?
• Where do you store it?
• How do you use your data?
• How can we help you to better manage your data?
Methods:
• Online questionnaire
• One‐to‐one interviews
• Group interviews
10. RDM Guidance material
• Develop a Research Data Management microsite
to support LSHTM researchers
• Guidance framed around several lifecycles:
– Funding: Preparation, funded period, post‐project
– Data: Contemporary, obsolete format
– Record: Active, semi‐active, Inactive (possibly)
• Several topics covered during lifecycle:
– Developing Data Management Plan
– Data labelling
– Metadata
• Guidance tailored to institutional services,
subject domains and health‐related data &
metadata formats
• Material produced over several stages of
development
11. RDM training material
• Producing teaching material on various topics related
to RDM
– Presentation slides,
– presentation notes,
– practical exercises
• May be tailored for different audiences:
– Domain independent for library & archives staff
– Subject specific for tutors in each faculty
