How Do Researchers Define Their Data Lifecycle and What Can We Learn from Their Definitions?

This poster presents a comparison of the data lifecycles of 32 researchers as articulated by researchers themselves. Similarities and differences between the stages within these data lifecycles are noted and implications for data service providers are discussed. A critical element of providing data services is developing a thorough understanding of the nature of the data being produced by researchers. Data lifecycle models are being developed by organizations providing data services as a means to communicate with researchers and other stakeholders who would make use of these services. The test of an effective data lifecycle model is its ability to resonate and connect with the researcher. In other words, does the researcher see her data set (and by extension her needs for her data) represented in the data lifecycle model provided by service organization? Conducting a side by side comparison of the 32 data lifecycle tables presented in DCPs demonstrates the complexity and challenge of developing and communicating data services in ways that resonate across or even within fields of research. An array of terminologies and classifications are employed, the number of stages varies widely and activities such as processing data may be carried out over multiple stages. The results described in this poster demonstrate some limitations of data lifecycle models and emphasize the importance of building strong communication channels with individual researchers. Published DCPs are available through the Data Curation Profiles Directory: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/dcp/

Data Services in Libraries: Past, Present and Future

Jake Carlson, MLIS, MA, is Director of Research Data Services, University of Michigan Library. He presented an overview and history of data services in libraries, including challenges for the future

Agronomy / Biofuels - Purdue University

The study of a species of switch grass, Miscanthus, and its potential use as a biofuel is addressed in this data curation profile. Specifically, the graduate student studies how Miscanthus cycles nutrients, nitrogen, and carbon and achieves high yields compared to other perennial crops. Although the she recognizes the importance of sharing her data to the greater research community, she is unsure of the resources available to make sharing possible. For her data to be most useful to others it would need to be connected to the article that contains her methodology in generating and working with the data

Opportunities and Barriers for Librarians in Exploring Data: Observations from the Data Curation Profile Workshops

Setting and Objective: The Purdue University Libraries offered a series of professional development workshops in 2011-2012 to provide librarians with a broad understanding of issues in data curation and to train them in the use of the Data Curation Profiles Toolkit (DCP Toolkit). An additional goal of the workshop was to develop a better understanding of the experiences, attitudes, and needs of librarians as they explore new roles. Design and Methods: Workshop participants were asked to complete three surveys: one before the workshop, one right afterwards, and one delivered three months after they had attended the workshop. Participants’ responses to the survey questions that pertained to demographic information, confidence levels, and levels of engagement before and after the workshop were reviewed and analyzed. Results: The results of the survey indicated that participants’ confidence levels in multiple areas increased after the workshop, but that their levels of engagement remained relatively stagnant. An analysis of the free text comments made in the survey revealed multiple issues in librarians’ efforts to increase their engagement in working with data including time, staffing, and organizational support from their library. Conclusions: The challenges encountered by librarians seeking to engage in data management and curation issues are found at the individual level (acquiring skills and confidence) and at the organizational level (creating a supportive environment). Both levels will need to be addressed by libraries seeking to develop data services

Developing Data Literacies for Graduate Students in the Social Sciences

What competencies in working with data do graduate students in the Social Sciences need to acquire before they graduate? What roles can librarians and other information professionals play in teaching these competencies to graduate students? This paper will report on preliminary findings from an investigation into the data management competencies and skill gaps of graduate students in the social sciences. Building from the work of the Data Information Literacy (DIL) project (http://datainfolit.org), this study uses an interview-based approach to discern how competencies in working with data are understood and valued by graduate students and their faculty advisors. The DIL project identified and employed 12 data competencies as starting points for interviews and for developing educational programming on data literacies for graduate students. As the original DIL project focused on students in five different STEM fields, this extended study into the social sciences (DIL-SS) will allow for comparisons of perceptions and practices between these disciplines. In addition, DIL-SS presents an opportunity to further develop the 12 DIL competencies and test their relevance to educational needs in the social sciences. Our findings will inform the work of librarians and others involved in offering data management education and consulting services in academic settings

Human Cell Defense Systems - Purdue University

The research addressed in this data curation profile focuses on enhancing the body’s endogenous antioxidant defense system to mitigate some of the complications that occur in diabetes due to high blood glucose concentrations. The data management needs concern sharing the data. The researcher views his summarized data as valuable to others, and in some cases the raw data may have value. However, he has concerns regarding the misuse and misinterpretation of his data and would prefer to have safeguards in place to prevent these issues

Request and Augment Presentation

The Request and Augment steps to curating research data are explained in this presentation

Curating Chemistry Data through Its Lifecycle: A Collaboration between Library and Laboratory in Scientific Data Preservation

Collaborating with the Center for Authentic Science Practice in Education (CASPiE), the Purdue University Libraries have created a model for the capture and preservation of data as part of the experimental workflow. In the CASPiE program, students work closely with a faculty researcher on a real world research problem and generate data using a networked system of scientific instrumentation. The data may pass through three stages in its lifecycle. First, the data is the student\u27s record within the course and therefore has educational value. Second, the data also supports the scientist\u27s work and therefore has research value. Finally, the data may be published to a wider community and therefore has lasting value which needs to be preserved. The flow of data from student to researcher to a digital repository has been outlined and partially implemented. Collaboration tips, metadata issues, preservation concerns, and instrument/software challenges will be discussed. [ACS Abstract

Data Management and Sharing from the Perspective of Graduate Students: An Examination of Culture and Practice at the Water Quality Field Station

Libraries are actively seeking to identify and respond to the data management and curation needs of researchers. One important perspective in this area that is often overlooked is that of graduate students. This case study uses the Data Curation Profile Toolkit to interview six graduate students working for Agronomy researchers at the Water Quality Field Station (WQFS) research lab to understand the students’ practices with data, the challenges they face, and their attitudes towards managing and sharing data. Though a small study, this research could provide new insights for libraries creating data services, particularly in regards to graduate students