Eliciting researchers’ behaviour as the foundation of research data management service development

• Main Authors: Ismail, Mohd Ikhwan, Jaafar, Cik Ramlah Che, Azmi, Noor Adilah, Makhtar, Muaz Mohd Zaini, Samsuddin, Samsul Farid, Abrizah, A.
• Format: Article
• Published: Curtin University of Technology 2022
• Subjects: Library science. Information science
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/44045/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

Background. Research data management (RDM) has become an important activity in universities, for researchers to fulfil funding agencies’ and journal publication requirements, and to promote open science practices. Academic libraries have been identified as the locations to base RDM services. However, to develop effective RDM services, an understanding of RDM from the researchers’ perspectives is needed, including how researchers manage their research data. Objectives. This study aims to discover researchers’ behaviours and practices in RDM, and propose how the library can incorporate RDM into the research services offered. Methods. This case study, carried out at a research university in Malaysia, involved both quantitative and qualitative data gathering, focusing on three aspects of RDM: data creation, data storage and preservation, and data sharing. Quantitative data were collected via a survey of 113 researchers, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 12 researchers. Results. It was found that the researchers had been generating research data irrespective of format and types. Most of the researchers managed their research data based on their own perspectives and practices, without following proper guidelines and standards. The researchers used personal solutions for research data storage and preservation, and utilized less than 10 gigabytes of storage for the short term. The researchers also did not share their research data due to privacy and confidentiality issues. Contributions. Researchers need support for organizing, archiving and preserving research data for future use, and libraries can provide this important service. The study reflects the library’s transformative role starting with conducting needs assessment of the academic research community, and establishing an RDM service. © 2022 The Authors. All rights reserved.