Data, Data Use, and Scientific Inquiry: Two Case Studies of Data Practices

TitleData, Data Use, and Scientific Inquiry: Two Case Studies of Data Practices
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsWynholds, L. A., Wallis J. C., Borgman C. L., Sands A., & Traweek S.
Date Published2012///
PublisherACM
ISBN Number978-1-4503-1154-0
Keywordsdata citation, data practices, data sharing, gap_evidence, gap_relationships, scientific data, sg_data_citation, sg_data_reuse
Abstract

Data are proliferating far faster than they can be captured, managed, or stored. What types of data are most likely to be used and reused, by whom, and for what purposes? Answers to these questions will inform information policy and the design of digital libraries. We report findings from semi-structured interviews and field observations to investigate characteristics of data use and reuse and how those characteristics vary within and between scientific communities. The two communities studied are researchers at the Center for Embedded Network Sensing (CENS) and users of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data. The data practices of CENS and SDSS researchers have implications for data curation, system evaluation, and policy. Some data that are important to the conduct of research are not viewed as sufficiently valuable to keep. Other data of great value may not be mentioned or cited, because those data serve only as background to a given investigation. Metrics to assess the value of documents do not map well to data.

URLhttp://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1284&context=borgman

Gap Area Study Type:

High-level Gap Areas:

Measurement Gap Areas:

Purpose: 
Investigated the characteristics of data use and reuse within specific research communities, and how characteristics of data use and reuse vary within and between those communities
Method: 
Conducted semi-structured interviews and field observations in environmental sciences, marine biology, ecology, seismology, computer science, engineering, and astronomy