Presentation given by Robin Burgess at The Glasgow School of Art's RDM workshop on 31st January 2013.

1. Research Data Management
for the Visual Arts:
Principles, Policies, and Plans
Dr Robin Burgess
31st January 2013

2. Context
Session One: Session Two:
• Introduction to Kaptur • DCC involvement
• Environmental • GSA’s RDM Policy
Assessment • Roles and responsibilities
• What is Arts Research • Use and reuse of data
Data? • Repository and resources
• Funder Requirements • Data management plans
• Examples • Next steps for GSA
• The need for research
data management

3. Learning Objectives
• Understand the nature of
research data in the visual arts
• Appreciate the importance of
research data
• Understand the basic principles
of data management for
research data
• The creation of policies and data
management plans
• Future considerations for GSA
• Discuss with others and learn –
knowledge exchange

4. SESSION ONE:
The Basics and Initial
Discussions

5. KAPTUR
• To investigate the nature of research data in the visual arts
• To consider the application of technology to support
collection, discoverability, usage, and preservation of
research data in the arts
• To review appropriate policies, procedures and systems
• To develop case studies and showcase good practice to a
wider audience

6. Background
• Research outputs are varied and
complex in the visual arts
• Little is known about the state of
research data in the visual arts
• None of the specialist arts institutions
have research data management
policies of infrastructure

7. Process
• Environmental
Assessment
• User
Requirements,
systems evaluation
and piloting
• Policy formation
• Capacity building
• Sustainability
• Dissemination

8. Environmental Assessment
• Discover, Create and pilot • 4 researchers from each institute
a sectoral model of best chosen, from a broad range of
practice in the disciplines
management of research • Areas discussed
data in the arts - Terminology
• What is research data in - Role of the visual arts researcher
the arts?
- Creation of visual arts research
• How can visual arts data data
be managed appropriately
- Use/re-use of visual arts data
- Visual arts data in the longer term

9. Interview Findings
• The term ‘research data’ was not helpful
• Researchers undertake multiple roles
• Creation of data altered
• Awareness of use and re-use present
• Importance of archiving raised
• Little consensus in the visual arts on what research data is
• Described as tangible, intangible, digital, and physical
• Visual arts data is heterogeneous and infinite,
complex and complicated

10. Quote from a researcher:
“… I am not sure what constitutes research
data… What is data? I mean, I talk to you about
my data as a researcher, but for the institution,
what does it consider data? Would it be
conference proceedings, would a performance
be data even if it was not recorded, sometimes I
don’t record my performances…”

11. Definition
"Anything which is used or created to generate
new knowledge and interpretations. ‘Anything’ may
be objective or subjective; physical or emotional;
persistent or ephemeral; personal or public; explicit
or tacit; and is consciously or unconsciously
referenced by the researcher at some point during
the course of their research. Research data may or
may not lead to a research output, which
regardless of method of presentation, is a planned
public statement of new knowledge or
interpretation."

18. EXAMPLES OF ARTS
RESEARCH DATA

19. Why Manage Research Data?
• What are the drivers and incentives for
management of research data?
• Who benefits?
• Funder Requirements
• Institutional Requirements
• Good practice in research

20. Funder Requirements
• EPSRC • AHRC
• Policies required to • Technical Summary
secure funding by • “We expect all or research projects
to have some form of documentation
1st May 2015 of the research process, which
• Road map usually takes the form of textual
analysis or explanation to support
development and the research’s position and to
data management demonstrate critical reflection”
plans

21. Summary

22. SESSION TWO:
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
AND DATA MANAGEMENT
PLANS

23. Policy Development
• Involvement of Kaptur
• Support from project partners
• Liaison with outside sources – e.g. the DCC
• Attendance at events – Conference in Leeds
• Involvement of interested parties at GSA – IT,
Information Services and the Library,
Research Office, Researchers
• Working Groups

24. Approach
• Context • Iterative process
• Definition of research data • Discussions held
• Policy statements • Obtaining feedback
• Implementation methods • Sign off and agreement

25. The Policy
Roles and Preservation
Responsibilities
• The Glasgow School of • Data curation/retention
Art • Presentation and
• Individual Researchers showcasing work
• IT • Selection process
• Information Services • FOI
• The Research Office • Institutional policies and
guidelines/strategies

26. Data Management,
Methods
Research Repository Other Software
• DCC tools
• DMP Online
• https://dmponline.dcc.ac.uk/
• Free data management
planning tool
• Includes AHRC technical
plan and others
• Can be customised

27. Data Management Plans
• Importance of plans, in relation to funder
requirements
• AHRC Example:
- Section One: Summary
- Section Two: Technical Methodology
- Section Three: Technical support and relevant
experience
- Section Four: Preservation, sustainability and use

28. Plans continued…
• Summary:
- What? And How?
- Relationship to research
• Technical Methodology
- Standards and formats
- Hardware and software
- Data acquisition, processing,
analysis and use

29. Plans Continued…
• Support:
- Roles and responsibilities
- Managing risk
• Preservation:
- Preserving your data
- Ensuring continued access and
use of your digital outputs

30. SUMMARY
• Define the digital outputs
and technologies
• Why have they been
chosen?
• Describe source data or
content
• How will outputs be used?
• How do they relate to the
research questions?
• What access will be
granted?

31. TECHNICAL METHODOLOGY
• What file formats will
be used and why?
• What standards will be
in place?
• Systems fit for purpose
• Outline project
workflows and
procedures

32. SUPPORT
• Consider project team
roles and technical
expertise
• Internal support networks
• External support networks
• Risks associated with lack
of support

33. PRESERVATION
• Research ‘freely available
to the community’?
• Online resources
• Impact of the study
• IPR, Copyright, Ethical
issues, FOI
• Support after the end of
funding, technical
requirements etc

34. Comments
Issues: Lessons Learnt:
• Building the support • To be open and discuss
network at GSA the work fully
• Extensive focus on the • Identify the correct people
REF process to engage with
• Changes in management • Formulate an action plan
• Changes in staffing for development
• Expressing the • Communicate
importance of policies • Obtain by-in early on
• EPSRC letter

35. Next Steps
• Approval of the RDM
Policy at RKEC
• Implementation of
Policy within the ethos
of research at GSA
• Support from Learning
Resources and
Research Office

36. Acknowledgements
• The project officers from partner institutes
• VADS
• JISC for sponsoring the project
• DCC
• Artwork images – By Burgess&Bear
• (http://www.facebook.com/BurgessBear)
THANKYOU!
http://www.vads.ac.uk/kaptur/