Collaborative notes https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Iud

The value of research data is an important parameter for decision making in research projects. Which data should we collect? Can the data be commercialised? What data do we share and what to preserve after the project?

It is not only the individual researcher who considers and perhaps determines the value of data.  Stakeholders such as publishers and funders are interested in the production and promotion of high-quality data. Universities want cost-effective use of their storage services and urge researchers to delete data that no longer have value. Libraries and archives are interested in data with high societal value, and increasing global legislation governing security and privacy highlight the value of data as an inverse of the cost of non-compliance. Despite this large focus across stakeholders, data value definitions vary widely, and, to our knowledge, few organizations systematically work with this concept to inform decision making.

 The objective of this Birds of a Feather session is to explore the possibility of establishing an RDA interest or working group to develop a framework for the value of research data.

In this session, we take a starting point in some first work done on a data value framework by a national working group in Denmark as well as a quantitative analysis of (mainly) European research data policies that implicitly or explicitly define or mention data value. We would like to invite all interested parties to join us in the discussion! We are looking for inspiring use cases that demonstrate “value of data” as an important parameter for decision making in research. We would like to discuss different value types and factors that could affect value. And lastly, we would like to explore how different stakeholders could use data value, for example when developing policies and internal procedures.

Meeting presenters

Susanne den Boer Beckers, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Pedro Hernández Serrano, Maastricht University, the Netherlands

Proposed meeting agenda

0-5 min         Introduction to the session

5-25 min       Presentation by Susanne:

• A framework for research data value, a work in progress in Denmark. (Susanne) Including short discussion.

25-45 min     Presentation by Pedro:

• Exploring the value of research data through quantitative policy analysis. (Pedro) Including short discussion.

45-75 min     Structured discussion and survey among participants (via mentimeter or similar – so that online participants also can contribute).

Among others:

• How is data value defined in your organisation? Who defines value?
• How is data value used in data management decision making?
• Use cases

75-85 min     Discussion on the possible creation of an RDA interest or working group

85-90 min     Summary of main conclusions of the session.