Hamblett R1, Mertin A1
1University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Biography:
Ria is the Data Librarian at UTS Library, leading research data management training and advocacy across the university. She works within the Open Scholarship & Copyright team, which supports open, ethical, and compliant research practices, including RDM, Indigenous data stewardship through ATSIDA, copyright advisory services, and open access publishing via UTS ePress.
Andreas has provided RDM support to the UTS research community in numerous roles, from promoting RDM best practice as a data librarian, to advising on tools and infrastructure as an eResearch Information Analyst. He is now the Research Data Management Specialist in the Data Governance Team.
Abstract:
Navigating RDM requirements is challenging at the best of times, but what happens when researchers don't believe they have research data in the first place? This remains an all-too-common challenge for HASS researchers and their support staff, particularly where discipline-specific RDM resources are scarce. Last year, we introduced a collaborative project between UTS Library, Data Governance, and the Faculty of Law to explore this problem. This year, we're back with the outputs.
Building on those exploratory foundations, this project set out to translate insights from focus groups with Law researchers into a tangible suite of discipline-specific RDM resources: guidance materials, case studies, and best practice RDM advice that speaks the language of legal research.
This was a multi-phased project, working closely with the Associated Dean (Research) and researchers themselves to ensure every resource was grounded in the lived experience of Law researchers. Materials were designed to reflect authentic legal research scenarios, from those working with archival and human participant data through to more traditional textual sources. Throughout, the aim was to translate institutional RDM requirements into guidance that made sense within the Law faculty's own context.
The result is a cohesive suite of RDM resources tailored for Law researchers that has already attracted interest from other HASS faculties at UTS.
Come and hear what worked, what challenged us as research support professionals, and how working closely with a faculty can deliver discipline-specific resources that create greater value than generic RDM advice ever could.
