Conference Pre-Print: “Extending the Research Data Toolkit: Data Curation Primers”

The following article was published online today by the International Journal of Data Curation (IJDC).

Title

Extending the Research Data Toolkit: Data Curation Primers

Authors

Cynthia Hudson-Vitale
Pennsylvania State University

Hannah Hadley
Pennsylvania State University

Jennifer Moore
Washington University in St. Louis

Lisa Johnston
University of Minnesota

Wendy Kozlowski
Cornell University

Jake Carlson
University of Michigan

Mara Blake
Johns Hopkins University

Joel Herndon
Duke University

Source

International Journal of Data Curation (IJDC)
Vol 15 No 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2218/ijdc.v15i1.713

Abstract

Niche and proprietary data formats used in cutting-edge research and technology have specific curation considerations and challenges. The increased demand for subject liaisons, library archivists, and digital curators to curate this variety of data types created locally at an institution or organization poses difficulties. Subject liaisons possess discipline knowledge and expertise for a given domain or discipline and digital curation experts know how to properly steward data assets generally. Yet, a gap often exists between the expertise available within the organization and local curation needs.

While many institutions and organizations have expertise in certain domains and areas, oftentimes the heterogeneous data types received for deposit extend beyond this expertise. Additionally, evolving research methods and new, cutting-edge technology used in research often result in unfamiliar and niche data formats received for deposit. Knowing how to ‘get-started’ in curating these file types and formats can be a particular challenge. To address this need, the data curation community have been developing a new set of tools – data curation primers. These primers are evolving documents that detail a specific subject, disciplinary area or curation task, and that can be used as a reference or jump-start to curating research data. This paper will provide background on the data curation primers and their content detail the process of their development, highlight the data curation primers published to date, emphasize how curators can incorporate these resources into workflows, and show curators how they can get involved and share their own expertise.

Direct to Full Text Article
14 pages; PDF.

See Also: More Papers, Conference Pre-Prints, etc. From IJDC Vol 15, No 1

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Data Files, Journal Articles, Libraries, News