The DAF at Southampton

Harry Gibbs, Academic Liaison Librarian – Social Sciences 19th January 2010

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Scope• School of Social Sciences (contacts & knowledge)

• Data types

– research data

– primary and secondary

– quantitative and qualitative

– electronic and other

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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

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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

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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

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Methodology

• Online questionnaire to all researchers

• Small number of follow-up interviews

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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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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!

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Outcomes• Positive responses from School

• Awareness raised in School

• IDMB project plans further DAF work

• Data Support Web Page

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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