Managing Research Data: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher Perspectives

The authors conducted six focus group semi-structured interviews consisting of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers within the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in order to understand their roles within research groups and their ability to manage...

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Main Authors: Christie Wiley, Erin E. Kerby
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Alberta Library 2018-06-01
Series:Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship
Online Access:https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/istl/index.php/istl/article/view/1725
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author Christie Wiley
Erin E. Kerby
author_facet Christie Wiley
Erin E. Kerby
author_sort Christie Wiley
collection DOAJ
description The authors conducted six focus group semi-structured interviews consisting of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers within the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in order to understand their roles within research groups and their ability to manage research data. More specifically, participants were asked how they manage, organize, and describe data, as well as the challenges they face in these activities. This study revealed graduate students primarily discuss managing research data in terms of the software they use and that their focus is task specific. Additionally, the language and concepts librarians use in conversations about data management creates a barrier to understanding for graduate students. This study confirms that there is a significant disconnect between the faculty members who design and direct research projects and the graduate students and postdoctoral researchers that do the front-line work. This study helped identify that more data management engagement, interaction, and instruction within research groups is needed. Acknowledging this will allow librarians to develop more meaningful data management instruction and enhance the research data support services provided to faculty.
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spelling doaj-art-e5e553f37448481a92404011673834d32025-08-20T02:47:18ZengUniversity of Alberta LibraryIssues in Science and Technology Librarianship1092-12062018-06-018910.29173/istl1725Managing Research Data: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher PerspectivesChristie WileyErin E. Kerby The authors conducted six focus group semi-structured interviews consisting of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers within the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in order to understand their roles within research groups and their ability to manage research data. More specifically, participants were asked how they manage, organize, and describe data, as well as the challenges they face in these activities. This study revealed graduate students primarily discuss managing research data in terms of the software they use and that their focus is task specific. Additionally, the language and concepts librarians use in conversations about data management creates a barrier to understanding for graduate students. This study confirms that there is a significant disconnect between the faculty members who design and direct research projects and the graduate students and postdoctoral researchers that do the front-line work. This study helped identify that more data management engagement, interaction, and instruction within research groups is needed. Acknowledging this will allow librarians to develop more meaningful data management instruction and enhance the research data support services provided to faculty. https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/istl/index.php/istl/article/view/1725
spellingShingle Christie Wiley
Erin E. Kerby
Managing Research Data: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher Perspectives
Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship
title Managing Research Data: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher Perspectives
title_full Managing Research Data: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher Perspectives
title_fullStr Managing Research Data: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher Perspectives
title_full_unstemmed Managing Research Data: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher Perspectives
title_short Managing Research Data: Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Researcher Perspectives
title_sort managing research data graduate student and postdoctoral researcher perspectives
url https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/istl/index.php/istl/article/view/1725
work_keys_str_mv AT christiewiley managingresearchdatagraduatestudentandpostdoctoralresearcherperspectives
AT erinekerby managingresearchdatagraduatestudentandpostdoctoralresearcherperspectives