History data management staff development

History DMP

Chris Awre and Richard Green

Department of History Staff Development event, 18 January 2012

History DMP

History DMP| 18 January 2012 | 2

• JISC-funded project

– October 2011 – March 2012

• Aim to develop a data management plan for use within the Department

– Explore technical options for putting this into practice locally

– Develop case studies as exemplars of how such a data management plan might be used

• Partnership between History and Library and Learning Innovation

History and data


• There is a lot of data in History research, e.g.,

– Transatlantic slave database– History of marine animal populations (HMAP) – UK economic statistics 1066 – present– Biographical detail of officers in the German

armed forces in the 17th and 18th centuries

• Simply holding this for the research requires some level of management

• Data Curation Centre – “because good research needs good data”

Why manage data?


• Data as research output

– Data itself can be a valid research output and needs to be well managed for presentation and assessment

• Transparency of research

– Good data management allows process of research to be transparent, adding validity and integrity

• Data security and accuracy

– Data management is not just for outputs, but can support research practice itself

Data Management Plan


• A set of questions, with associated guidance

– Presentation options to be determined

• Addresses issues such as:

– Roles and responsibilities– Documentation and metadata– Formatting– Storing– Legal aspects

• Ethics, consent, copyright– Sharing

Why a data management plan?


• DMPs are a way of supporting data management throughout the research process

• Applying for grants

– Many funders now require a statement of how data generated will be managed

• During research

– A DMP can help inform how data generated or gathered can be best managed

• Disseminating research

– A DMP can guide how data can be shared where appropriate, to increase its value and meet funder requirements

DMP and research


• The DMP is an aid to supporting the management of data

– It does not cover the collection of data

• The DMP is a tool that can support data education and training

– A component of wider activity

• DMPs can be applied at individual, project, departmental, or institutional level

– History DMP is focused on a departmental DMP• This can then be adapted as required

Gathering requirements


• It is essential that the DMP is informed by the data management requirements that exist within the Department

• Gathering input via

– Interviews– Focus groups (of which there is one today)– Steering Group (involving David and Peter)

• Thank you to all who have given your time

• Evidence collected suggests

– Data management is needed, and does take place– There is a wide variety of data types and formats within the

Department– Guidance on options would be welcome

History DMP timetable


• Focus group today

– All welcome

• Development of draft data management plan

– Input welcome to provide feedback as we go along

• Technical development

– Enhancing local Hydra repository to better manage datasets

• Case studies

– Specific case studies identified, though others willing to apply the DMP as a case study are welcome

Thank you


• Contacts

• Chris Awre (Head of Information Management, LLI)

– [email protected]

• Richard Green (Project Manager)


• John Nicholls (Project Officer)


mailto:[email protected]



History DMP focus group


• Thank you for your time

• Your input will make the data management plan as useful as it can be for you and the Department

• We have a set of prompt questions, but…

– Please take the discussion where you think it needs to go

• We will run for no more than an hour

– Unless you’d like to pursue the discussion!

Question


• What sort of data does your research give rise to?

Question


• What have you done with your data that has worked well for you in managing it?

Question


• What requirements are you addressing with your data currently?

– Funder?– Institutional?– Research community?– …

• What issues have you encountered in seeking to meet these requirements?

Question


• What are the current prospects for your data?

• What would you like to be able to do with your data?

Question


• How might a data management plan assist you in your research?

Question


• How would you find it easiest to engage with a data management plan

– Format?– Coverage?

Documents

History data management staff development