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Ensuring the Integrity, Accessibility, and Stewardship of Research Data in the Digital Age (2009) / Chapter Skim
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5 Defining Roles and Responsibilities
Pages 115-120

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From page 115...
... As a speaker at one of the committee's meetings memorably described the problem, "If two people are responsible for feeding a dog, that dog's going to starve." The remainder of this chapter revisits the recommendations made in the three preceding chapters by briefly describing the roles and responsibilities of the major sectors of the research enterprise in ensuring the integrity, accessibility, and stewardship of research data. In that regard, it functions as a summary of the report's recommendations, though the recommendations are resorted according to the groups responsible for each action (see Table 5-1)
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From page 116...
... TABLE 5-1  Responsibilities of Groups Within the Research Enterprise 116 Research Institutions and Research Research Professional Recommendation Researchers Libraries Sponsors Societies Journals Public Data Integrity Manage projects to ensure data integrity ✓ Receive appropriate training for data management ✓ Participate in development of professional standards for ✓ ü ✓ ✓ ✓ management of data Provide support for training in data management ✓ ✓ ✓ Recognize appropriateness of financial support for data ✓ professionals Help ensure that contributions of data professionals are ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ recognized and rewarded Data Access and Sharing Make data and other information integral to reported results ✓ accessible in a timely manner Ascertain whether data are publicly accessible and, if not, ✓ whether restrictions are appropriate If data are not accessible, explain why publicly ✓ If necessary, develop standards for data accessibility (with parties ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ appropriate for field) Except where restrictions are justified, require that data be made ✓ ✓ ✓ available Promote sharing of data through public recognition of outstanding ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ data-sharing efforts, funding, and publication policies Establish clear policies for management of and access to research ✓ data
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From page 117...
... Ensure availability of data in short and long term ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Data Stewardship Include provisions for stewardship of data in data management ✓ plans Document, reference, and index data with long-term value ✓ Develop process to generate guidance for researchers about data ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ retention Develop and implement plans with researchers to meet needs for ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ data stewardship Develop incentives and tools for data stewardship ✓ ✓ ✓ Publicize and promote proper data stewardship ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Consider supporting data centers and archives, and stewardship ✓ tools 117
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From page 118...
... RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS Research institutions, including colleges, universities, medical schools, and other nonprofit organizations, have a major influence on the policy environment in which research is conducted. Their support -- or lack of support -- for data integrity, accessibility, and stewardship can have a major effect on the quality and usability of research data.
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From page 119...
... . Research grants and contracts typically give research institutions ownership rights in research data, and so those institutions have a particular interest in seeing that research data are available, that restrictions on the accessibility of research data are justified, and that procedures exist for responding to requests for research data.
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From page 120...
... In general, more dialog is needed among researchers, research institutions, and research sponsors about the need for education and training, how sponsors should support the stewardship of data, the role of data professionals, and how institutions and sponsors should respond to reasonable and unreasonable requests for research data. Professional societies and journals can catalyze these dialogues within research fields, providing a base of knowledge that can then be applied across disciplines.
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Key Terms

  • data professionals
  • data integrity
  • research sponsors
  • research plan
  • data accessibility

  • develop incentives
  • sponsor requires
  • expectations help
  • dures exist
  • institutions ownership

  • single research
  • overly diffuse
  • researchers themselves
  • major sectors
  • public trust

  • qualities discussed
  • data accessible
  • avoid inaction
  • publicly accessible
  • sponsors research

  • providing researchers
  • responsibilities incumbent
  • usable form
  • informal expectations
  • chapter revisits

  • formal policies
  • ownership rights
  • avoid conflicts
  • preceding chapters
  • publicly reported


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