The Role of Case Studies in Effective Data Sharing, Reuse and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Role of Case Studies in Effective Data Sharing, Reuse and Impact Rebecca Parsons and Scott Summers UK Data Service, UK Data Archive IASSIST 2016 – Embracing the ‘Data Revolution’: Opportunities and Challenges for Research 2 nd June 2016

Presentation overview 1. Introduction to the UK Data Service 2. Case studies 1. Research and impact 2. The UK Data Service and brand impact 3. Assisting other depositors 4. Conclusions and the future

UK Data Service We provide: • Access to high-quality local, regional, national and international social and economic data • Support for policy-relevant research in the higher education, public and commercial sectors • Guidance and training for the development of skills in data use • The development of best practice data preservation and sharing standards • The sharing of expertise with international data providers to remove barriers to accessing data

Case studies and the UK Data Service • The UK Data Service has used case studies for several years. • Case studies link to the catalogue record and give a short summary of the research question addressed, the data used and the outcome of the research. • Whilst these are useful, broadening our portfolio of case studies has allowed us to reach wider audiences and provide relevant information and for Service users, data depositors and our funders. • Case studies have enabled us to spread the word about the work that we do and also analyse how the service is being used and where data users need more support.

Research and Impact • Case studies allow us to demonstrate the reach and impact of the research that is carried out using data from the UK Data Service. • In the UK research ‘impact’ is one of the key measurements for universities and academic researchers to prove their success. • However, researchers often struggle to prove impact. • Academics do not follow up on previous research as they are busy with their next project. • Early career researchers, or post-doctoral researchers may move around institutions, so miss out on university support for impact capture. • After talking with researchers we identified this as an area that we could support researchers by monitoring and reporting impact through case studies which both the researcher and the UK Data Service could use. • The development of impact case studies has demonstrated the breadth of research undertaken by Service users. • Our recent case studies have included research from the fields of health, social policy, education, use of technology and industry.

Research and Impact Example case studies: Dr Ivy Shiue, Northumbria University • Investigated the links between bio-markers in older adults and the temperature of their home. She found that those living in colder homes had higher blood pressure, worse hand grip, lower vitamin D levels, higher cholesterol levels and worse lung conditions. • Dr Shiue’s findings were used in an evidence review by Public Health England and then incorporated into the UK government’s 2016 winter planning policy. Onward Migration, Emma Stewart and Marnie Shaffer • Mapped the geography of refugee onward migration across the UK, in particular how the policy of ‘dispersal’ effected refugee’s success in settling in the UK. • The research was used as evidence by the Scottish Refugee Council in a Scottish government review on tenancy agreements and housing across Scotland.

UK Data Service brand awareness • As with any publically funded organisation, the UK Data Service needs to demonstrate to funders and supporters the excellent work that we do. • Case studies allow us to provide real-world examples of the depth and breadth of our organisation. • We have developed case studies that focus on how the Service has been used. InFuse, the interface that provides access to Census data. This case study is used by the ESRC to illustrate the benefit of supporting data infrastructure. • Visual case studies – an attempt to distil on to one page the research questions, findings, methodology and policy implications of a piece of research. • Not suitable for complex research and care needs to taken that results and methodology are not over simplified. • But, useful for introducing the Service, particularly to younger users who are just starting to use social science data.

Assisting other depositors • Depositor case studies allow us to point other depositors to examples of previous users that have deposited data with us and how they managed any challenges they may have had when depositing data • One recent depositor case study helps to emphasise the message that we have been promoting for years at the UK Data Service The importance of planning for the sharing and managing of data early within the research project

Assisting other depositors Dr Karon Gush’s study: • investigated how couples managed their households during recessions • identified the potential challenges when it came to archiving and sharing the data early in the project • sort to address issues throughout the project to prevent future issues

Assisting other depositors • consent for sharing was gained from the participants when they were interviewed • it was identified that the team wished to share the data and were aware that they would need ‘ fully informed consent ’ from the participants to do so • anonymising the data required a careful ‘balancing act’ to ensure that the data was as useful as it could be to future users, whilst still achieving the correct level of anonymity for participants

Assisting other depositors “Anonymisation should be thought about at the beginning and should be seen as ‘part and parcel’ of the whole project… and the anonymisation process should be completed as you go along and not left until the end”

Assisting other depositors Other depositor case studies: Pat Caplan • the problems with archiving complex anthropological data ten years after the research is completed Maggie Mort • how one can gain consent for data sharing and archiving retrospectively

Assisting other depositors Benefits for us, our depositors and, our users: 1. Allows us to actively encourage data deposits from users by showing how other data has been deposited and shared 2. It provides illustrative examples of how other depositors have addressed potential data sharing issues in practice 3. Allows data depositors to build collaborations with users by providing further information on their research project and the steps that they went through to deposit their data 4. Facilitates impact in a variety of ways for the Service

Conclusions Case studies allow us: • to help researchers demonstrate research and impact • to collate real-world evidence on the work of the UK Data Service • to provide assistance to other depositors

..And the future Developing case studies: • for use in schools that can link to datasets suitable for teaching and are based on UK education curriculum • focussing on early-career researchers, showcasing their work and helping them build a portfolio of impactful research • with a particular focus on the innovative use of data • to assist our depositors and complement our current research data management training and guidance • which have ‘acutely sensitive data’ or are typically seen as ‘data that cannot be shared easily’