COMPARATIVE FINDINGS FROM DATA LITERACY SURVEY IN THREE BULGARIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

In 2016 the international research group for implementation of the scientific survey on DL (Data Literacy) and RDM (Research Data Management) were established [1]. Convinced that the DLS (Data Literacy Survey) was both timely and necessary, a team of researchers from the ULSIT (University of Library Studies and Information Technologies) joined the international scientific group and conducted the research in 2017 [2]. In the period of March-May 2018, the DLS was replicated in University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy (UCTM) in Sofia and in Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen (SHU). The general aggregation consists of 108 effectively surveyed lecturers and doctoral students. These new sets of data gave a chance to make comparisons and to stimulate inter-institutional dialog and collaboration for needed improvements. In the research paper we examine the current state of data literacy, data sharing and reuse perceptions and practices among researchers from three Bulgarian universities, namely ULSIT, UCTM and SHU. The survey results find out the differences in practices and perceptions across the subject disciplines of respondents – between representatives of the Social Science and Humantities (ULSIT and SHU) and those from Natural and Engineering Sciences (UCTM). The analysis of the findings resulted in the creation of recommendations to be used as the basis for further reflection on the institutional RDM policy and the improvement of the Quality of Education Management System at the universities. The research, which found gaps in understanding of data management best practices, provides recommendations for data literacy training to be provided in the near future. In Bulgaria, the need of implementation of the RDM policy is connected with open data policy and the engagement to contribute in EOSC (European Open Science Cloud). It is underlined by two national strategies - “National Strategy for Development of Scientific Research in the Republic of Bulgaria 2017 – 2030: Better Science for Better Bulgaria” and “Bulgaria National Roadmap for Research Infrastructure, 2017-2023”. Acknowledgements: This result is supported by the National Scientific Program „Information and Communication Technologies for a Single Digital Market in Science, Education and Security (ICTinSES)“, financed by the Ministry of Education and Science.