Research Data Management: Pushing the Frontiers of Good Research Practice
Prof. Dr. Yaşar Tonta, Hacettepe University Department of Information Management, Ankara, Turkey
Abstract. Research data can be defined as factual records (e.g., digital and textual data, audio and video recordings) that are used as the main source to validate the research findings. Therefore, the US and the EU spend large sums of money to collect, mine, analyze, synthesize and visualize research data to carry out cutting-edge research. The amount of research data increases 30% per annum. Data is the lifeblood of research, and the management of research data constitutes the crucial part of good research practice even though most research data tend to be locked in researchers’ own hard disks or in their proprietary institutional servers. G8 countries have recently acknowledged the importance of research data and endorsed the Open Data Charter (2013). Managing use and re-use of atmospheric research data through the British Atmospheric Data Centre (BADC) provides somewhere between 400% and 1,200% returns on investment (Beagrie & Houghton, 2013, p. 7). Yet, very many countries have yet to establish their research data centers, infrastructure and policies. This talk will provide an overview of major research data management (RDM) issues, underline the importance of effective RDM, explore the benefits of RDM in terms of pushing the frontiers of good research practice.
Bio. Dr. Tonta is a professor at the Department of Information Management of Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, where he teach courses on information retrieval, database management systems, information systems design, networked information services and bibliometrics. He served as the Chair of the Department (2009-2012) and as the founding president of the National Academic Network and Information Center (ULAKBIM) of the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (1996-1998). He received his graduate degrees in library and information studies from the University of California at Berkeley (Ph.D., 1992), the University of Wales (M.Lib., 1986), and the University of Hacettepe (M.A., 1985). He also received Hacettepe University’s Science Award in 2010. His contributions appeared in a number of journals. He served as the editor and/or editorial board member of several journals and organized several national and international scientific conferences. He currently serves as a member of UNESCO Turkey’s Memory oft he World Committee.