[Duraspace] The 2014 DAF Survey at the University of Sheffield | Cox | International Journal of Digital Curation

[Hilton Gibson]

The* Data Asset Framework methodology has evolved to provide a model for
institutional surveys of researchers’ data practices and attitudes*. At
least 13 such studies have been published in the UK and internationally.*
The aim of this paper is to analyse the results from the 2014 DAF survey at
the University of Sheffield *and to reflect on the comparability of this
with previous published studies. *432 researchers responded to the survey
representing 8% of the target population*. Researchers at Sheffield collect
multiple types of data and a significant number have accumulated very large
amounts of data. Data was backed up on a diverse basis. *Only 25% of
respondents had a DMP.* Eighteen months after its creation most respondents
were still not aware of the local research data management policy.
Fortunately, most respondents were favourable to the idea of training in
many aspects of RDM. *Researchers had generally had no experience of
sharing data*, but attitudes were positive, both in terms of a significant
minority seeing a lack of data sharing as an obstacle to the progress of
research and also desire to reuse the data of others and share their own
with a broad group of researchers. Comparison of the Sheffield results with
those of other institutions is difficult particularly because of the
divergence of questions asked in the different studies. Nevertheless, in
terms of data practices and identifying training priorities there are
common patterns. This institutional survey showed less positive attitudes
to data sharing than the results of cross-institutional studies, such as
conducted by Tenopir et al. (2011)

http://www.ijdc.net/index.php/ijdc/article/view/362
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