Research Data Management needs assessment of Clemson University

Abstract

Research data management (RDM) encompasses a wide range of activities that include documenting and managing data during a research project, as well as sharing and preserving data after the research project is completed.  Academic libraries can offer a variety of services that support researchers during the research life cycle which vary among institutions.   The faculty, staff, and graduate students of Clemson University were surveyed by Clemson Libraries about their research data management (RDM) needs in the spring of 2021.  The survey was based on previous surveys from 2012 and 2016 to allow for comparison, but language was updated and additional questions added because the field of RDM has evolved.  Survey findings indicated researchers are overall more likely to back up and share their data, but the process of cleaning and preparing the data for sharing was an obstacle.  Few researchers reported including metadata when sharing, or consulting the library for help writing a Data Management Plan (DMP).  Researchers want RDM resources, and offering and effectively marketing those resources will enable libraries to both support researchers and encourage best practices. Understanding researcher needs and offering time-saving services and convenient training options makes following RDM best practices easier for researchers.  Communicating how RDM benefits researchers and integrating RDS into the research life cycle through partnerships is crucial for ensuring effective data management.