Moving a brick building: UK libraries coping with research data management as a ‘wicked’ problem

Andrew M Cox,Jennifer Smith,Stephen Pinfield

doi:10.1177/0961000614533717

Andrew M Cox, Jennifer Smith + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000614533717

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the value to librarians of seeing research data management as a ‘wicked’ problem. Wicked problems are unique, complex problems which are defined differently by different stakeholders making them particularly intractable. Data from 26 semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews with librarians was analysed to see how far their perceptions of research data management aligned with the 16 features of a wicked problem identified from the literature. To a large extent research data management is perceived to be wicked, though over time good practices may emerge to help to ‘tame’ the problem. How interviewees thought research data management should be approached reflected this realisation. The generic value of the concept of wicked problems is considered and some first thoughts about how the curriculum for new entrants to the profession can prepare them for such problems are presented.

Highlights

In the last five years managing research data has emerged as a potentially important new area of activity in United Kingdom (UK) universities (Corti et al, 2014; Pryor, 2012; Pryor et al, 2014)
It follows from this analysis that the skills and attitudes we acquire as professionals need to include the attributes that help us to deal with wicked problems
From an Information School perspective, the concept of wicked problems prompted the authors to consider how new entrants to the profession can be educated to operate effectively in the context of the complexity of wicked problems. This chimes with the sense of how the employability agenda in general has shifted towards a stress on collaboration skills, creativity, flexibility, etc

Summary

Introduction

In the last five years managing research data has emerged as a potentially important new area of activity in United Kingdom (UK) universities (Corti et al, 2014; Pryor, 2012; Pryor et al, 2014). Most require a Data Management Plan as part of a funding application but they have placed a responsibility on institutions to find ways to manage, share and preserve research data, in the absence of comprehensive national subject data repositories. This is in parallel with shifting policy agendas at the EC level and in the USA and Australia. The way that data is used in the research process is complex and the tools in use vary enormously across disciplines (RIN, 2009) Some fields, such as medical research, already practise sophisticated data management and others are just beginning to grasp the importance of the issue. Commercial and legal reasons not to share data are strong in some fields; whereas in others, such as physics, open data sharing even prior to Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 48(1)

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