Presentation given at University of the Arts, London, DCC101, 19th November 2012

1. … because good research needs good data
What is Research Data
Management?
Marieke Guy
Institutional Support Officer, DCC
m.guy@ukoln.ac.uk
University of the Arts, London,
19th November 2012
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University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

2. … because good research needs good data
The Digital Curation Centre (DCC)
• Is a consortium comprising units from the Universities
of Bath (UKOLN), Edinburgh (DCC Centre) and
Glasgow (Humanities Advanced Technology and
Information Institute - HATII)
• launched 1st March 2004 as a national centre for
solving challenges in digital curation that could not be
tackled by any single institution or discipline
• funded by JISC
• with additional HEFCE funding from 2011 for
• the provision of support to national cloud services
• targeted institutional development Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

3. … because good research needs good data
The DCC mission
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

4. … because good research needs good data
What is research data?
…whatever is produced in research or evidences its outputs
• Facts, statistics
• Qualitative &
quantitative
• Not published
research output
• Discipline
“highest priority research data is that which specific
underpins a research output” Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

5. … because good research needs good data
CAIRO definition
“Within the creative arts research data is evidence of an
identified research activity…Research data includes
preparatory, unfinished and supportive work in digital
form in addition to data relating to completed works.”
Curating Artistic Research Output (CAIRO)
http://www.projectcairo.org/
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

6. … because good research needs good data
Definition issues for arts institutions
• Kaptur project (http://www.vads.ac.uk/kaptur/) sees
research data in the visual arts as:
• Tangible and intangible
• Heterogeneous and infinite
• Complex and complicated
• Digital and physical
“…no fundamental separation exist between theory and
practice in the arts” Borgdorff et al Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

7. Research data:
… because good research needs good data
institutional
crown jewels?
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifes__too_short__to__drink__cheap__wine/4754234186 /

8. … because good research needs good data
Policy
• Public good
• Preservation
• Discovery
• Confidentiality
• First use
• Recognition
• Public funding
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

9. … because good research needs good data
EPSRC expects all those institutions it funds:
•to develop a roadmap that aligns their policies and processes
with EPSRC’s expectations by 1st May 2012;
•to be fully compliant with these expectations by 1st May 2015.
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/about/standards/researchdata/Pages/e
xpectations.aspx
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

10. … because good research needs good data
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

11. … because good research needs good data
Funder requirements
http://www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/policy-and-legal/overview-funders-data-policies
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

12. … because good research needs good data
Data sharing: Incremental project
“Data
sharing was
“While many researchers are positive
more readily
about sharing data in principle, they
are almost universally reluctant in discussed by
practice. ..... using these data to early career
publish results before anyone else is
researchers.”
the primary way of gaining prestige in
nearly all disciplines.”
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

13. … because good research needs good data
RDM drivers
External
• Government Open Agenda
• Public pressure – data as a public good
• Changes in funders’ data policies
• Institutional need for better research integrity; REF
• Best practice
• Desire to be good and a well-cited researcher
Internal Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

14. … because good research needs good data
Data issues
• Scale and complexity – volume,
pace, infrastructure
• Quality of data
• Reputation – FOI, DPA,
computer misuse
• Management – Storage,
incentive, costs & sustainability
• Openness
• Preservation
• Partnerships
• Funding for researchers Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

15. … because good research needs good data
What is research data management?
“the active management and
appraisal of data over the
Manage
lifecycle of scholarly and
scientific interest”
Data management is part
of
Share good research practice
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

16. … because good research needs good data
What is involved in RDM?
• Data management planning
• Creating data
• Documenting data
• Storing data
• Sharing data
• Preserving data
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

17. … because good research needs good data
Good data management is about
making informed decisions
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

18. … because good research needs good data
•How to…
• Appraise and Select
Research Data
• Cite Datasets and Link to
Publications
• Develop a Data
Management and
Sharing Plan
• License Research Data
• Set a RDM service –
coming soon!
Funded by:
How to cite data
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

19. … because good research needs good data
Activities at UAL
• Ongoing involvement in JISC Kaptur project
• Surveys/interviews of researchers
• UAL policy & RDM area on web site
• UAL data management planning template
• Funder requirements document
• Training & advocacy
• Clarification of roles
• Exploration of use of Datastage-eprints-Figshare by:
Funded
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

20. … because good research needs good data
UAL RDM policy: principles
• The University affirms its commitment to data
management as a core academic activity, and a key
element of good research practice.
• Research data will be managed to the highest
standards as part of the University’s commitment to
research excellence.
• The University will provide mechanisms and services
for storage, backup, registration, deposit and retention
of research data assets in support of current and future
access, during and after completion of research
projects.
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

21. … because good research needs good data
UAL RDM policy: principles cont…
• The University acknowledges its responsibility to
ensure that researchers meet the stipulations of
funders, and to support the needs of researchers.
• The University notes its institutional responsibility to
manage Freedom of Information requests, including
those relating to research data.
• The University believes that planning and
communicating data management activities throughout
the research lifecycle leads to better results.
• Also looks at workflow, roles & responsibilities Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

22. … because good research needs good data
RDM area of UAL web site
http://www.arts.ac.uk/research/data-management/ Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

23. … because good research needs good data
DMPOnline
• Requirement to produce Data Management Plans
(DMPs) as part of bid process
• DMP Online enables you to build and edit DMPs
according to the requirements stipulated by the major
UK funders
• Development of a UAL version of DMP Online software
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

24. … because good research needs good data
Good first steps..
• Simple, accessible, visual guidance for creating and
managing data
• Pointers to local and external resources, illustrated fact
sheets, checklists and FAQs giving solutions to
researchers’ common concerns
• Practical data management training with discipline-
specific examples and assisted by local champions
• Connections between researchers and support staff,
offering advice and guidance from the proposal writing
stage
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012

25. … because good research needs good data
Any questions?
For DCC guidance, tools and case studies see:
www.dcc.ac.uk/resources
Follow us on twitter @digitalcuration and #ukdcc
Funded by:
University of the Arts, DCC101, London, 19th November 2012