One of the goals of RDA is to help researchers to manage and share their research data in a timely and correct manner (Research Data Management - RDM).
One of the outputs of RDA is the book "Engaging Researchers with Data Management: The Cookbook", which provides examples of good practice for involving researchers in research data management. The interest group RDA Libraries for research data compiled the book, and its main goal is to stimulate changes within society for better data management.
The book contains 24 case studies of researchers, librarians and scholars from various institutions around the world who are successfully promoting RDM principles and encouraging research data management. In a clear and practical way, book provides guidelines for scientific and research community about data management during research.
Some of the tips for involvement of researchers in the process of research data management mainly refer to:
- dissemination to the target audience via social networks (e.g. Twitter, LinkedIn, Slack)
- connecting and networking with researchers from different institutions
- mutual cooperation of universities
- developing and organizing workshops, courses and webinars
- creating habits for research data management, e.g. some universities have introduced a legal obligation for researchers to submit a research data management plan (Data Management Plan — DMP) before implementing a project
- development of RDM templates within the university for researchers to use during their research
- creating a community of practitioners
- dissemination of good practice and the most successful researchers in managing research data.
The organization of workshops and webinars, during which researchers are introduced to data organization strategies in order to improve the quality of their research, has proven to be the most effective way to raise the motivation of researchers. The content of workshops is about naming conventions for research files, writing the README file, structuring subfolders and files in the research documentation, etc. Workshops where researchers bring their own research data to work on were highlighted as an example of good practice.
Some universities have managed to integrate education about research data management as part of elective courses on open science and academic integrity in postgraduate doctoral studies. Furthermore, individual universities have employed facilitators who assist researchers with data management.
Other examples in book highlights organization of informal gatherings so-called data conversations where researchers gather to share their experiences and knowledge about data management in a relaxed atmosphere over coffee or a snack.
A detailed overview of all activities and guidelines can be found in the book "Engaging Researchers with Data Management: The Cookbook" .
You will have the opportunity to hear more about topics related to research data at the webinar "How to Manage Research Data?", which will be held during the month of May.
