A Repository on a Mission: A Small Research Community Gets Serious about Reproducibility
Authors
Peer, LimorDocument Type
PosterPublication Date
2012-04-04Keywords
data archivedigital repository
research data
replication
reproducibility
social science research
open access
Library and Information Science
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objective: To describe the process and challenges of creating a replication data archive at the Institution for Social and Policy Studies (ISPS) at Yale University. The Archive provides open access to research data, links data to publications, and ultimately facilitates reproducibility. Description: The ISPS Data Archive is a digital repository for research produced by scholars affiliated with ISPS, with special focus on experimental design and methods. The primary goal of the Archive is to be used for replicating research results, i.e. by using author-provided code and data. The Archive was launched in September 2010 as a pilot for Yale’s Office of Digital Assets and Infrastructure (ODAI) to find solutions relating to storage, persistent linking, long-term preservation, and integration with a developing institutional repository. Results: Before data publication, Archive staff processes data and code files, including verifying replication, adding metadata, and converting to CSV and R. To date, the ISPS Data Archive has published over 750 files for about 45 studies. Conclusions: The development and implementation of the ISPS Data Archive, though outside the library, raises issues familiar to librarians: the need for clear policies from the institution; the challenge of finding support for the provision of high quality services; the complexity of working in close partnership with IT; the need to keep up with fast-paced changes in technology and in user expectations; and the challenge of bringing about change in community norms and practices. Alongside these practical issues, fundamental questions arise about the appropriate role of the university vs. the disciplines when it comes to data archiving, especially in light of the need to comply with requirements from funders and journals. Related publication: http://www.ijdc.net/index.php/ijdc/article/view/212DOI
10.13028/cagh-qe21Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/28592Rights
Copyright the Author(s)Distribution License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.13028/cagh-qe21