Research Data Management Practice in Academic Libraries

Abstract

Purpose: The present scoping review examines research data management (RDM) best practices and empirical studies in academic libraries between 2010 and 2021. Method: The current study developed systematic database searches to locate potential articles for inclusion and designed a detailed and systematic coding scheme to examine the substantive features of RDM and characteristics of RDM practice, with an emphasis on RDM instruction. Results and Discussion: The results from the current study demonstrated that there is great demand for RDM training after 2011. Furthermore, research about RDM training spread across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and elsewhere. The findings also proved that RDM training is essential for both STEM and non-STEM subjects but simultaneously indicated that non-STEM subjects such as the social sciences in particular lack RDM training. Results from the current literature also found that a large number of RDM training programs focused on the introduction of RDM or an RDM overview, without in-depth and discipline-based curriculum for researchers across domains. Additionally, this study identified a lack of quantitative research, especially statistical analysis, on the effect of RDM interventions. Conclusion: This study contributes to our comprehensive understanding of some essential elements associated with RDM training, with the primary finding that future practitioners in the RDM field would benefit from stronger collaboration with faculty or researchers to develop more discipline-based curriculums for RDM and more application-based approaches for teaching RDM.