Guide to Options for ETD Programs

Dr. Martin Halbert of the University of North Texas documents the spectrum of ETD program implementation and offers guidance for academic decision-makers who are either creating or modifying ETD programs. Dr. Halbert identifies and offers in-depth analysis regarding the five key decisions that ETD programs must make. He also provides a literature review of publications, standards and reports that have been produced to date, and relates these to the key decisions

Data Sharing And Data Reuse: An Investigation Of Descriptive Information Facilitators And Inhibitors

This dissertation examines how descriptive information inhibits or facilitates data sharing and reuse. DataONE serves as the test environment. The objective is to identify descriptive information made discoverable through DataONE and subsequently determine what of this descriptive information is helpful for scientists to determine data reusability. This study uses a mixed method approach, which includes a data profiling assessment in the form of a quantitative and qualitative content analysis and a quasi-experiment think-aloud. A quantitative and qualitative content analysis was conducted on a stratified sample of data extracted from DataONE to examine types of descriptive information made available through the shared data. Participants searched a quasi-experiment interface and thought-aloud about what information inhibited or facilitated them to determine data reusability. Additionally, participants completed a post result usefulness survey, post search rank order survey, and a post search factors survey. The quantitative and qualitative content analysis shows that the shared data contains 30 unique pieces of descriptive information found in the records. The quasi-experiment think-aloud indicates that scientists found pieces of descriptive information particularly useful for their ability to determine data reusability. These include: (a) the data description, (b) the attribute table, and (c) the research methods. In conclusion, metadata schema, member node standards, and community standards, impact what types of descriptive information are provided through the shared data. Attribute and unit lists, research methods information, and succinctly written abstracts facilitate data reuse. However long abstracts and having the same information in multiple places, and the exclusion of data descriptions inhibit data reuse. The findings and recommendations assist funding agencies and scientific organizations in understanding the current state of data being shared and prioritizing how to meet the needs of scientists regarding data reuse. This dissertation provides guidance to developers of current and future data sharing environments and infrastructures, research data management and scientific communities, scientific data managers, creators of data management plans, and funding agencies; and has implications beyond DataONE.Doctor of Philosoph