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Developing disciplinary focussed data management training courses in Archaeology and Social Anthropology

Lindsay Lloyd-Smith, Irene Peano, and Elin StangelandCambridge University Library

JISC MRD Programme Workshop, Birmingham, 29th March, 2011

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Aims and ObjectivesThe broad aim of the DataTrain project is to improve research data management

training available within UK HEIs, by providing exemplars and resources for others to use.

• Investigate current data curation practices and requirements within the Departments of Archaeology and Social Anthropology.

• Design data management course modules based on the requirements identified.

• Pilot the new data management course modules.

• Embed the course modules within each department.

• Deliver resources and findings to the ADS, DCC and JISC for wider dissemination and use.

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Context• Departments keen to meet research support requirements for

their post-graduate students

• Tailor data management training guidelines and requirements to specific disciplines and their methods

• Courses which are seen as useful and interesting by students

• Ascertain that courses are embedded within the departments

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Approach: Similarities and Differences• Research-student focused courses led by recent Cambridge PhDs • Overlaps in the kinds of data produced through research• Discipline focused - leads to different emphases in data management

Anthropology• Often individual, self-reflexive

research (especially at PhD level)• Ethos of private data, and

problems with ‘informed consent’ model

• Non-visual presentations (except for photographs, quotes and sometimes video)

• One-day interactive workshop

Archaeology• Often collaborative inter-disciplinary

research • Ethos of data sharing and historical

significance of research data

• Image rich powerpoint presentations

• 4 x 2 hr sessions

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Data Management in Archaeology4 X 2 hr sessions for Post-Graduate students (Masters & 1st year PhD)

1. Creating and Managing Data - thinking about data and talking to each otherDefining data in post-graduate projects

2. Working with digital data - practical stuff for doing a PhDFile structure, naming and formats.E-thesesData Management Plans for post-graduate projects

3. Project and Professional Data - larger research projects and the real worldCase studies of data management on larger research projects.

4. Archiving and Re-using Data - wrapping up projects, letting go and moving onDepositing digital dataIntellectual Property Rights and research data in archaeology

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Archaeology Post-Graduate Data Management Plans

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Archaeology Lessons LearntStudents are most interested in data management that is directly relevant to their work.Simplified teaching materials appreciated – student focused but not patronising.Group-discussion exercises effective.One-day workshop more effective than 4 x 2 hr sessions – avoiding drop-off in attendance.

Future at CambridgeMandatory 2 hour session for 1st PhD students in Autumn Term.Post-Graduate Data Management Plans as part of 1st & 2nd year reports for PhD students.Potential one-day workshop in Data Management in Archaeology

– open for post-graduates, post-doctoral researchers and academic staff.

Dissemination of MaterialsOn-line Open Access teaching materials hosted by the Archaeology Data Service and Jorum.Positive interest by other university departments for re-purposing teaching materials.

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Social AnthropologyRequirement Gathering (Dec 2010 – Jan 2011):• 16 people interviewed through semi-structured questionnaires:

Department’s computer officer 5 academics at various stages of their career 2 writing-up PhD students (post-fieldwork) 7 pre-fieldwork PhD students (focus-group discussion)

• Key findings: Limited departmental provisions, especially at post-graduate level More resources (both technical and didactic) welcome, but not strict guidelines or policies Electronic data not always crucial, reliance on pen and paper (often with no backup) across generations Metadata and documentation not necessarily created or developed, for lack of time and because the

research process is cyclical and continuously evolving (categories never stay the same!) Memory as key

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Social AnthropologyWorkshop aims and outline (5 May 2011):• Aims:

To provide pre-fieldwork postgraduate students with an understanding of data management issues and techniques across the data life cycle, with a special focus on the fieldwork phase of the research

To allow students to reflect upon and expand their understanding of research data; to share their experiences, skills and issues in this respect

• Outline: Introduction – why this course? Participants introduce themselves and their research Data creation, capture and organisation Data organisation Part II Data Protection and Ethics Looking after data Working with data at different levels of research Group discussion and final wrap-up

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Social AnthropologyLessons Learnt Need to keep the flexibility and distinctiveness that underscores the ethnographic method as a

whole also in data-management training and practiceSharing data often seen as problematic and not necessarily worthwhile

Future at Cambridge:The course will be part of the research training program offered to pre-fieldwork PhD students in

the coming years.Teaching material will be made available on University online platform and on Department’s

website (issue of updating, maintenance and sustainability, related to resource availability!)

Dissemination of Teaching MaterialsCamtools; Department of Social Anthropology website; UKDA; DCC; Jorum.

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Summary and Future• Tailored to student needs and led by recent PhD graduates• Improving data management skills by teaching each other

• Students only do what they need to• Mandatory Post-Graduate Data Management Plans in

Archaeology

• One-day workshops early in academic year in Archaeology• Mix of students, early career researchers and staff important

to share best practices, challenges and long-term vision

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Questions?

Contact:Project Manager Elin Stangeland es444@cam.ac.ukArchaeology Lindsay Lloyd-Smith lrl20@cam.ac.ukSocial Anthropology Irene Peano ip223@cam.ac.uk

Project website: http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/preservation/dataTrain/