Understanding the Data Management Plan as a Boundary Object through a Multi-stakeholder perspective

Abstract


 A three-phase Delphi study was used to investigate an emerging community for research data management in Norway and their understanding and application of data management plans (DMPs). The findings reveal visions of what the DMP should be as well as different practice approaches, yet the stakeholders present common goals. This paper discusses the different perspectives on the DMP by applying Star and Griesemer’s theory of boundary objects (Star & Griesemer, 1989). The debate on what the DMP is and the findings presented are relevant to all research communities currently implementing DMP procedures and requirements. The current discussions about DMPs tend to be distant from the active researchers and limited to the needs of funders and institutions rather than to the usefulness for researchers. By analysing the DMP as a boundary object, plastic and adaptable yet with a robust identity (Star & Griesemer, 1989), and by translating between worlds where collaboration on data sharing can take place we expand the perspectives and include all stakeholders. An understanding of the DMP as a boundary object can shift the focus from shaping a DMP which fulfils funders’ requirements to enabling collaboration on data management and sharing across domains using standardised forms.

”Samverkan är ju hela tiden, överallt” – samverkan som gränsobjekt i akademin

“…Det kan vara studier som belyst hur begrepp fått stor spridning inom vissa kunskapsområden under relativt kort tid, som till exempel "resiliens" (Baggio et al, 2015;Brand & Jax, 2007), "ekosystemtjänster" (Abson et al, 2014), "integrerad vård" (Allen, 2014) och "strategiverktyg" (Spee & Jarzabkowski, 2009). Ett exempel inom högskolesektorn är, förutom de två studier av "tredje uppgiften" som nämndes inledningsvis, en norsk studie av datahanteringsplaner (DMP) (Kvale & Pharo, 2021). Studien belyser forskares, administratörers och policyaktörers perspektiv på mål, användningen av och förhållningssättet till DMP.…”

“…Det behöver inte innebära någon oenighet men inte heller enighet. I likhet med de studier som lyfter fram och konstaterar att typiskt för gränsobjekt är att det råder delade meningar mellan olika intressenter (se exempelvis Allen, 2014;Carlile, 2002;Fox, 2011;Kvale & Pharo, 2021) ställer vi oss frågan vad som förblir vagt i det snäva mellanrummet mellan enighet och icke enighet. På så sätt vill vi också peka på det som möjligtvis undviks i diskussionen om samverkan och samverkanskompetens då diskussionen börjar närmar sig konkretion, specificering och operationalisering.…”

Assessing Quality Variations in Early Career Researchers’ Data Management Plans

“…Stakeholders have varied requirements for DMPs, as noted by Smale et al (2020). However, Kvale and Pharo (2021) argue that the primary function of DMPs is to aid researchers in organizing and documenting their data for easier sharing. Considering this, which approach is more effective: standardizing and automating DMPs with machine-readable elements, or enhancing them with autonomy, flexibility, and open-ended questions that enable researchers to create a DMP tailored to their project, with support from peers and research services?…”

“…Kvale and Pharo propose that a DMP should be developed foremost as a tool for researchers by lowering standardization, such as close-ended questions, and increasing flexibility, autonomy, and open-ended questions that allow a researcher to plan the organization and documentation of data from their own premises. Thus, by preserving the possibility for unique features of research projects, instead of standardizing and simplifying them away, a DMP best serves also other stakeholders, such as research institutions, other researchers, research support services, policy makers, and funders (Kvale and Pharo, 2021).…”

The Library's Changing Role in Supporting Music Research: Part of the special collection on MusicLab Copenhagen.

“…While the data stewards from RITMO are in charge of the data management, the library was consulted multiple times and contributed to the drafting and development of a data management plan that could be implemented as a documentation of procedures for data management (Kvale & Pharo, 2021). Springer and Cooper (2020) suggest that Open Research and data sharing is best supported by the identification of, and tailored support towards, emerging data communities.…”