Poster by: Stephanie Bradbury, Queensland University of Technology.

Seized by a sense of urgency, 2008 has seen Australian universities and research institutions seeking new and sustainable ways to ensure that their researchers can perform efficiently and conduct research effectively in an eResearch environment. To date, data management has been an important, yet sometimes unplanned element in the research process. Despite best intentions, it often happens spontaneously or on the fly, depending on resources available at the time of need.

Universities are aware that they must provide a robust data and information infrastructure for their researchers and their eResearch needs, but many have been unsure of what practices and guidelines are being used at an individual level, and to what extent. Government and funding authorities have established that research data must be accessible, discoverable, managed and long-lived, but before institutions implement policies and plans to enable this, the current landscape of practices should be investigated and mapped.

In late 2007 three universities separately undertook a survey of research data management practices at their institutions. The survey was initiated by the University of Queensland and conducted in partnership with the Australian Partnership for Sustainable Repositories (APSR). University of Melbourne and Queensland University of Technology conducted the same survey. The survey aimed to explore the nature of data management practices amongst researchers across all disciplines and identify common challenges encountered and enablers
used in managing data. The results will inform the establishment of guidelines for future data management and offer researchers a more coordinated and central approach to data management.

Results across the three institutions confirmed that researchers are facing common data management issues and using less than adequate data management practices. But rather than a lack of awareness of the importance of managing and storing research data, the survey results and follow-up discussions showed that researchers are concerned and aware of many of the issues, but are seeking guidance on what to do.

The brief online survey comprised questions relating to: storage of data, use of a formal research data management plan, current data storage and back up methods, access, ownership, willingness to share data, responsibility of maintenance of research data, and interest in training related to data management issues.

This poster focuses on the key findings of the survey results from all three institutions and follow-up focus groups at QUT. Three issues will be explored in depth: the heavy reliance on mobile storage devices; different attitudes to sharing data across the disciplines and mixed understandings about ownership of data.

The survey results indicate that the management of research data is not simply a matter of providing infrastructure. Researchers have real concerns about loss of control over their data and the reliability and security of central systems - they want training and guidelines.