Research Data Management

for the Visual Arts:

Principles, Policies, and Plans

Dr Robin Burgess

31st January 2013

Context

Session One:

• Introduction to Kaptur

• Environmental

Assessment

• What is Arts Research

Data?

• Funder Requirements

• Examples

• The need for research

data management

Session Two:

• DCC involvement

• GSA’s RDM Policy

• Roles and responsibilities

• Use and reuse of data

• Repository and resources

• Data management plans

• Next steps for GSA

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

SESSION ONE:

The Basics and Initial

Discussions

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

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

Process • Environmental

Assessment

• User

Requirements,

systems evaluation

and piloting

• Policy formation

• Capacity building

• Sustainability

• Dissemination

Environmental Assessment

• Discover, Create and pilot

a sectoral model of best

practice in the

management of research

data in the arts

• What is research data in

the arts?

• How can visual arts data

be managed appropriately

• 4 researchers from each institute

chosen, from a broad range of

disciplines

• Areas discussed

- Terminology

- Role of the visual arts researcher

- Creation of visual arts research

data

- Use/re-use of visual arts data

- Visual arts data in the longer term

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

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…”

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."

EXAMPLES OF ARTS

RESEARCH DATA

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

Funder Requirements

• EPSRC

• Policies required to

secure funding by

1st May 2015

• Road map

development and

data management

plans

• AHRC

• Technical Summary • “We expect all or research projects

to have some form of documentation

of the research process, which

usually takes the form of textual

analysis or explanation to support

the research’s position and to

demonstrate critical reflection”

Summary

SESSION TWO:

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

AND DATA MANAGEMENT

PLANS

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

Approach

• Context

• Definition of research data

• Policy statements

• Implementation methods

• Iterative process

• Discussions held

• Obtaining feedback

• Sign off and agreement

The Policy

Roles and

Responsibilities • The Glasgow School of

Art

• Individual Researchers

• IT

• Information Services

• The Research Office

Preservation

• Data curation/retention

• Presentation and

showcasing work

• Selection process

• FOI

• Institutional policies and

guidelines/strategies

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

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

Plans continued… • Summary:

- What? And How?

- Relationship to research

• Technical Methodology

- Standards and formats

- Hardware and software

- Data acquisition, processing,

analysis and use

Plans Continued…

• Support:

- Roles and responsibilities

- Managing risk

• Preservation:

- Preserving your data

- Ensuring continued access and

use of your digital outputs

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?

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

SUPPORT

• Consider project team

roles and technical

expertise

• Internal support networks

• External support networks

• Risks associated with lack

of support

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

Comments

Issues:

• Building the support

network at GSA

• Extensive focus on the

REF process

• Changes in management

• Changes in staffing

• Expressing the

importance of policies

• EPSRC letter

Lessons Learnt:

• To be open and discuss

the work fully

• Identify the correct people

to engage with

• Formulate an action plan

for development

• Communicate

• Obtain by-in early on

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

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/