Researchers' Perceptions of Research Data Management Activities at an Academic Library in a Developing Country

Abstract

This study investigated researchers perceptions of RDM at the MGGL to recommend measures to enhance managing, sharing, and reusing data. The study was underpinned by the DCC Curation lifecycle model and the CCMF which enabled the investigator to employ a descriptive research design to purposively capture data from a broad cross-section of 330 researchers. The data was analysed using SPSS to generate descriptive and inferential statistics that enabled the Investigator to answer the problem.Study findings demonstrate no explicit policies to guide each stage of data curation and capabilities. There were also inadequacies in the knowledge and skills capability, technological infrastructure and collaborative partnerships. Overall, RDM faced challenges in all the examined capabilities. These challenges limited managing, sharing, and reusing data.The study recommends establishing a CMU within the MGGL to oversee the implementation of RDM activities by assembling all the needed capabilities to support data curation activities and enable efficient managing, sharing and reusing research data

Research data management competencies of researchers in selected public universities in South Africa

“…According to quantitative findings, data sharing has a significant impact on increasing the impact and visibility of research, encouraging scientific inquiry and debate and leading to new collaborations between data users and data creators. Findings of similar nature have also been found in the studies of Masinde et al (2021) and Tenopir et al (2020).…”

“…Bunkar and Bhatt (2020, p. 144) also recommend intensive training for library professionals. Relevance of training is also evident in the studies ( Bunkar and Bhatt, 2020;Masinde et al, 2021;Maurya and Subaveerapandiyan, 2022;Birkbeck et al, 2022;Sheffield and Burton, 2022).…”

“…The Chawinga (2019) study also discovered RDM gaps in the capacities of librarians and researchers as a result of universities' failure to hold training workshops. Specifically, most authors (Kahn et al, 2014;Cox and Pinfield, 2014;Pinfield et al, 2014;Ng'eno and Mutula, 2018;Cox et al, 2019;Avuglah and Underwood, 2019;Chawinga and Zinn, 2020;Masinde et al, 2021) agree that RDM staff and researchers lack certain relevant skills and knowledge.…”

“…Numerous scholars and studies identify several competencies for better provision of RDM services in universities. Despite several identified RDM competencies and skills, most scholars agree that data curation skills are the most important for RDM services and practices (Molloy and Snow, 2012;Tripathi et al, 2017;Woeber, 2017;Nhendodzashe and Pasipamire, 2017;Chiware and Becker, 2018;Cox et al, 2019;Masinde et al, 2021). Data skills, sustained awareness of data creation, organisation, validation, sharing and curation are also identified as necessary RDM skills and knowledge (Molloy and Snow, 2012, p. 251).…”

“…Despite several identified RDM competencies and skills, most scholars agree that data curation skills are the most important for RDM services and practices (Molloy and Snow, 2012; Tripathi et al. , 2017; Woeber, 2017; Nhendodzashe and Pasipamire, 2017; Chiware and Becker, 2018; Cox et al ., 2019; Masinde et al. , 2021).…”