Open AccessEdinburgh datashare – reflections from a data repository manager
Author(s) -
Rice Robin
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
bulletin of the association for information science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2373-9223
DOI - 10.1002/bult.2014.1720400212
Subject(s) - rdm , workflow , data management , computer science , information repository , data management plan , confidentiality , data security , asset (computer security) , usability , vendor , world wide web , database , data science , computer data storage , computer security , business , encryption , computer network , human–computer interaction , marketing , operating system
EDITOR'S SUMMARY A no‐cost data repository service for university researchers, the Edinburgh DataShare has grown from a demonstration project to an integral part of the research data management (RDM) initiative of the University of Edinburgh. The initiative is designed to serve data management planning, data storage, data stewardship and data support, as well as provide a data asset registry and a vault where data will be retained for a period of time. Pilot testing the repository and RDM services has led to changes in the interface and workflow to improve usability. Testing by a clinical health instructor raised questions about anonymized patient data, confidentiality and vulnerability to hacking and led to a decision to cap the embargo on data access at five years. Additional testing for very large datasets and multimedia datasets remains to be done to determine the minimum amount of data fields that will serve a variety of purposes.