Open Access Sim4rdm aug 14

1. How to Support Development of Research Data Management?

3. Objectives
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Testing the tools created within the project within different scientific disciplines
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Helping users assess their research data management (RDM) maturity levels
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Providing users with step-by-step actions to improve their RDM maturity

4. Approach
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Four use cases around Europe with different starting-points
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A questionnaire was sent out to a group of people
→ assessment of RDM maturity
→ received recommendations on improving the RDM awareness
→ feedback in both directions!

5. •Lorraine Earth and Environment Observatory (OTELo) / Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (INIST-CNRS)
•VU University Amsterdam / Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social Sciences
•Nordic Center of Excellence Justice Through Education (JustEd) in the Nordic Countries
•Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

6. OTELo/INIST-CNRS
VU University Amsterdam
JustEd
MTA Library
Targeted group
Researchers
Researchers
Researchers
Researchers, funders, publisher
Objective
RDM awareness raising. Writing functional specifications → RDM technical infrastructure
Develop an openly accessible online platform for social science research
Map the differences in the national legal frameworks associated with depositing and sharing data in the Nordic countries, also map out available and suitable repositories for data used by researchers from several partner institutions
Implementation of a software tool, providing statistics on OA compliance and feedback to institutions and individual researchers on OA status.
Added value to initiative provided by SIM4RDM framework
Raised RDM awareness. Social infrastructure cross-talking with institution and researchers to improve RDM
Identification of critical factors for user engagement. Assessment and interpretation into tangible recommendations
The tools to be used at baseline level and soon thereafter a tool for testing improvement, thus helping improve RDM maturity
Added value to research funders and promote OA awareness and higher OA availability
Areas tested: Organisational (O), Legal (L), Technical (T), User Engagement (U), Data Reuse (D)
O, T
O, L, T, U
L
T
Objectives of the case studies

7. Main findings
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The tool:
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The terminology used presents a serious barrier for respondents who are not familiar with IT and RDM
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No “one-size-fits-all”-approach is applicable
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Recommendations: To link the SIM4RDM tool to a knowledge bank (data base) of available references and use cases in RDM area for further implementation of recommended actions. To supply the SIM4RDM tool with monitoring and feedback as advanced features of the SIM4RDM framework

8. Main findings (contin.)
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RDM in relation to specific domain:
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Ad hoc versions of the tool were wished for which completely would meet the requirements set within their scientific field
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OA not applicable within all scientific fields
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RDM awareness/maturity:
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Generally, the SIM4RDM questionnaire and recommendation tool were found really useful. The tools have raised researchers’ awareness
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Good guidance via SIM4RDM framework, gives some legitimacy to further actions and assists in developing new services
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Systematically addressing all the different features of sustainable RDM schemes, which enables asking the right questions, and initiating practical steps and plans to improve features that were identified as optimal. In this respect, the one-on-one linking of the questionnaire to the cookbook is of great use

9. Main findings (contin.)
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Weaknesses discussed:
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Lack of RDM awareness of scientists and appropriate incentives
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Lack of appropriate technical infrastructure, tools and personnel
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Institutions and journals are immature in setting RDM requirements
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Institutions are underdeveloped in providing RDM related technical and legal support
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Data peer-reviewing is a unknown concept for many social scientists
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Future steps:
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RDM maturity levels shall be demonstrated on the basis of available references and use cases
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Will take note of requirements set by trusted repositories. The awareness of DM needs to be raised among researchers and broadly among the university staff