Using Data Interviews to Map Research Data Services (RDS) Needs at a Health Science Institution

Abstract

Objective: On January 21, 2023 the National Institutes of Health Data Management and Sharing Policy (NIH DMSP 2023) went into effect. Ahead of these expanded data sharing requirements, the Health Sciences Library at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) set out to better understand health science research data service (RDS) needs and how the Library could develop new services in alignment with existing institutional support.Methods: Building upon a set of data interview questions created by Read et al. (2015), the author conducted a series of semi-structured interviews with 10 researchers in the fall of 2022. The interview transcripts were inductively coded and analyzed for themes relevant to RDS needs.Results: Analysis of the interviews identified several opportunities for the Library to take ownership of RDS activities in the areas of support services, training and instruction, and tools and technology. Additionally, these interviews helped to characterize existing institutional support and to develop an informal community of practice at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). These RDS topics were mapped onto Harvard’s Biomedical Data Lifecyle to further clarify areas of need and opportunities for growth for the Library and institutional RDS partners. Conclusions: The study identified critical RDS needs among UTHSC researchers and highlighted the potential role of the Library as a valuable partner in addressing these needs and fostering collaboration among campus stakeholders. Conversations informed by these findings continue with stakeholders about the best way to meet the needs of researchers on campus as well as centralize and coordinate existing endeavors.