Commentary on Fostering High-Impact Research in the Preservation Field

Abstract

In reaction to the plenary paper delivered by Anne Gilliland, the opening remarks for the symposium, and the other papers and reactions delivered, two major themes warrant deeper discussion and reflection: What does “high-impact” mean when referring to research? How do we fund such research? For research in the field of digital preservation to qualify as high impact, it must-through the use of rigorous, scientifically based methodologies-result in a positive near-term effect on the actual preservation of digital heritage objects. Whether they are traditional records, moving images, emails, the latest file format, or other cultural objects, the research must bring some positive movement toward effective, efficient, comprehensive preservation of the object of study. The goal of such research should be the development of practical and implementable solutions. The author posits that with the current state of archives, intellectual exercises will be of little benefit to those “in the trenches” who are struggling with adapting to the twenty-first-century technologies used to produce records. While the development of high-level theory is important to keep the field of archival science moving forward, such abstract theory does not meet the definition of “high impact.”