The DAF at Southampton, by Harry Gibbs

The DAF at Southampton Harry Gibbs, Academic Liaison Librarian – Social Sciences 19 th January 2010

Scope
School of Social Sciences (contacts & knowledge)
Data types
research data
primary and secondary
quantitative and qualitative
electronic and other

DAF Team
Teresa McGowan, Research Assistant, Social Sciences
Myself, Social Sciences Librarian
With advice from…
Head of Research, School of Social Sciences
My line manager and Repository Manager

Aims
To get an overview of research data holdings in the School
To find out about data management practices
To identify datasets for our IR

Scoping: importance of clear objectives…
Metadata collection v data management practices
DAF Methodology puts emphasis on metadata forms
data management proving interesting
limitaton: researchers’ time
Projects v time period
multiple simultaneous projects
infrequent work with data

Ethics Approval
Necessary for all research involving human participants
Applied less strictly in other institutions?
Process less (perhaps more) time consuming elsewhere
Time consuming
Consent form & information sheet available

Methodology
Online questionnaire to all researchers
Small number of follow-up interviews

Online Questionnaire
to gather broad info about research data held
focused on how that data is managed
“…would you like someone to contact you about preserving your data…[?]”
asked for interview volunteers
tick boxes for speed
124 researchers

Interviews
purposive sample of 6 volunteers (data types and career stage)
to gather more in-depth info about data management practices
attempted to complete customised DAF metadata forms
rigorous approach: recorded and transcribed

Results
Online Questionnaire
47 full responses (38%), 35 with data
17 interview volunteers
most 4-6 mins
tick box data of limited value
Interviews
open discussion giving rich data
fascinating insight
Reported internally in report to institution (School & Library)

Lessons Learned (1)
Auditor
Advantages: experience of research & School contacts
Disadvantages: rigorous approach inc. ethics
Questionnaire design flaw
Question Mark Perception (BOS & iSurvey)
Audio formats (quality & readability)

Lessons Learned (2)
Questionnaire quick, although data was limited
Interviews time consuming but very interesting
Interviewees willing and open
Questionnaire ideal for finding (willing) volunteers
Combined methodology efficient
Timing (Dec 08 – Feb 09)
Time!

Outcomes
Positive responses from School
Awareness raised in School
IDMB project plans further DAF work
Data Support Web Page

More Info
Southampton Data Survey: our experience and lessons learned
http://www.disc-uk.org/docs/SouthamptonDAF.pdf
- includes consent form, info sheet, questionnaire, interview schedule

The DAF at Southampton, by Harry Gibbs

by JISC KeepIt project

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