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Published byMitchell Johns Modified over 9 years ago
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What do we want?: reports from practising researchers in three UK universities Bruce Beckles University of Cambridge Computing Service David Spence (Reading and Oxford) Luis Martinez (Oxford)
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Background Mid-2004, Cambridge: Post of e-Science Specialist, University Computing Service (UCS) created: …the UCS “champion” of eScience [sic] within the University, raising the profile of what is available. Late 2007, Reading and Oxford: Shared post (Reading IT Services / Oxford e-Research Centre) of e-Science Development Officer created
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Problem It is difficult to be an effective champion of something if one does not understand its relevance to the community to whom one is championing it
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Solution Understanding the work practices of a community is a pre-requisite to determining what is appropriate for that community
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Methodology (Cambridge) Snowball technique to find interviewees: –Initial contact usually IT support personnel In-depth semi-structured interviews: –Interviewees promised anonymity –Usually just one interviewer (Bruce) –Usually just one interviewee; occasionally groups of 2-3 interviewees –Interview audio recorded where agreed
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Methodology (Oxford) Focussed on those involved with e-Research Informal interviews: –One of two interviewers (David, Luis) –Primary focus of Luis’ interviews was research data management Also information gathered from websites
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Methodology (Reading) Snowball technique to find interviewees: –Started from e-Research advisory group; initial contact usually IT support personnel Informal interviews and an on-line survey: –Only one interviewer (David) –All based on same fixed set of questions Second on-line survey to rank results: –Disseminated more widely within institution
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Scope Institution No. of interviews (adjusted) Cambridge83 Oxford59 Reading40 182
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Subject Areas InstitutionMathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Medical Sciences Social Sciences Humanities Cambridge1557110 Oxford25131011 Reading24097 64703018
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Staff Type InstitutionStaff Type AcademicSupport Cambridge4241 Oxford509 Reading346 12656
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Analysis (to date) Common categorisation of issues raised in each institution: –Partly informed by classification of “barriers” from e-Uptake/ENGAGE Simple count of number of (adjusted) interviews in which these issues have been raised
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Overall Aggregated Issues Interviews: 182
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Top 10 Overall Issues Interviews: 182
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Across Institutions Percentage figures are the % of interviews at the specified institution raising issue
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Across Institutions Percentage figures are the % of interviews at the specified institution raising issue
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Sample Bias Cambridge: –Interviewers’ interest in training issues Oxford: –Interviewers’ interest in data issues (particularly Luis’ interviews) –Primary aim to find possible new collaborations for OeRC (“expertise register”) Reading: –Snowball seeded by e-Research advisory group –Interviewer (David) same as one of the interviewers in Oxford –Primary aim to discover current work and inform future strategy
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Top 10 Cambridge Issues Aggregated Training needs: 86% Interviews: 83 123456 Figures in red are the ranking of that issue in the overall aggregated issues
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Top 10 Oxford Issues Interviews: 59 123456 Figures in bold are the ranking of that issue in the overall aggregated issues
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Top 10 Reading Issues Interviews: 40 12345 Figures in red are the ranking of that issue in the overall aggregated issues
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Across Subject Areas Percentage figures are the % of interviews in specified subject area raising issue
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Across Subject Areas Percentage figures are the % of interviews in specified subject area raising issue
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Natural/Formal Sciences vs. Social Sciences & Humanities Percentage figures are the % of interviews in specified type of subject raising issue
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Natural/Formal Sciences vs. Social Sciences & Humanities Percentage figures are the % of interviews in specified type of subject raising issue
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Top 10 Natural/Formal Sciences Issues Interviews: 134 123456 Figures in red are the ranking of that issue in the overall aggregated issues
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Top 10 Social Sciences & Humanities Issues Interviews: 48 12345 6 Figures in red are the ranking of that issue in the overall aggregated issues
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