Rsquared: researching the researchers. A study into how researchers at the University of New South Wales use and share research data

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Abstract
Research data management in libraries in the past focused on the published output at the end of the research cycle. We are now of the age of data driven scholarship. E-scholarship (not just e-science) is predicated on data organisation, management, use and reuse. We now need to become more involved with the management (describing and making accessible) of research data itself. To support our researchers we must understand what services are needed to support e-research. This paper presents the findings of a research study of data usage, creation and sharing within different research communities at UNSW. The study identifies emerging data usage and management needs within the e-research life cycle of diverse research communities. Comparison is made with the outcomes of other studies that have examined e-researcher work practices in relation to their data. The paper examines the findings to understand what role researchers see libraries having, and discusses the development of a framework that libraries can use to support the curation and management of data, and the development of tools and library support services that can be used across disciplines. The study addressed the following: • What are the existing data use, storage and sharing practices of academics at UNSW? • What are the differences and similarities between disciplines andfields of research? • What are the differences between project types (e.g.multidisciplinary, cross institutional)? Using a mixed-methods research design, data from focus groups was used to construct an online survey followed by interviews with selected survey participants to extend and provide in-depth understandings of data from the survey. The study was carried out by the Library Repository Services unit (LRS) which was established in 2007. Initially charged with designing and building the UNSW institutional repository, LRS now leads the Library’s research data management services and contributes to the University’s e-research coordinating group. LRS services support the library as a partner and collaborator in the e-research space where the description, management, use and reuse of data in all its forms (primary, secondary, interpreted, analysed and published) is provided.
Persistent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.4/44923
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/786
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Author(s)
Amos, Howard
;
Frances, Maude
;
Ruthven, Tom
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Publication Year
2010
Resource Type
Conference Paper
Degree Type
UNSW Faculty
Files
download ppt slides IATUL 2010.ppt 1.13 MB Microsoft Powerpoint
download Conference paper.doc 101.5 KB Microsoft Word
Related dataset(s)
RSquared Survey Data
Dataset
These survey data were collected as part of the 'Researching the Researchers' (RSquared) project at the University Library, University of New South Wales. The aim of the survey was to gain an understanding of changing needs in data use, creation and sharing within different research communities at UNSW. Invitations to participate in an online survey were emailed to UNSW academic staff and postgraduate students. Survey questions covered: Demographic information and research experience; Data use and sharing practices; Data use and sharing attitudes; Knowledge and expectations relating to data sharing.
RSquared Interview Data
Dataset
Six in-depth qualitative interviews were collected as part of the 'Researching the Researchers' (RSquared) project at the University Library, UNSW Australia. These data were collected with the aim of gaining an understanding of changing needs in data use, creation and sharing within different research communities at UNSW. Participant recruitment was undertaken via the RSquared online survey. As part of the survey, volunteers were sought to take part in an informal in-depth face-to-face interview about their data usage, creation and sharing practices. Participants included academic staff as well as postgraduate students. The interview schedule included questions about research data management practices. Researchers were asked about their research data use and sharing practices, understanding of institutional and disciplinary policies relating to data management, and disciplinary perspectives on data sharing.This data collection consists of the semi-structured interview transcripts. Identifying information, including names of people and projects has been removed from the transcripts. A detailed thematic coding schema was manually created on the basis of analysis of two of the interviews.
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