Rachael Kotarski

Mapping the UK thesis landscape: Phase 1 project report for Unlocking Thesis Data

This report details the work (April-July 2015) of Unlocking Thesis Data, where the project carried out a survey of EThOS institutions, interviewed staff at six universities for more in-depth case studies, and synthesised the findings. Overall, there is much appetite for applying DOIs to theses and their data (which includes datasets, software components and other non-textual supplementary files) and ORCiDs to research students. Glasgow, Southampton and East London universities each minted a DOI for an existing thesis, demonstrating the viability of our intent, but the case studies showed there are constraints in both processes and technologies to be addressed before persistent identifiers (PID) for theses can be a nationwide reality in the UK. The project makes five recommendations for further work in a second phase: 1. Hold at least three thesis “clinics” to investigate opportunities and barriers to assigning DOI and ORCiD identifiers in UK universities 2. Engage with system suppliers/vendors to identify opportunities for enhancing software with required PIDs 3. Consult with EThOS formally to understand what needs to change in EThOS systems and processes to harvest and display PIDs and related metadata for theses and their data 4. Evaluate approaches to updating UKETD profile, initially in EPrints, before planning software enhancements 5. Investigate requirements and solutions for those institutions that use EThOS as their first-point repository.

Unlocking Thesis Data through persistent identifiers: what next?

Updating the repository community on the activities of the UTD project, and progress since then, in UK universities.

Identifiers for PhD theses and research students: How can we make it happen?

By their very nature PhD theses break new ground and advance research. They are often the first scholarly output produced by early researchers, and it makes sense to embrace new initiatives like identifiers right at the beginning of the research process. Applying Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) to all theses and encouraging doctoral students to hold an ORCID iD will: - Provide easily citeable theses and data - Grow usage, and support metrics & altmetrics - Embed good data management practice early on - Help track career paths and impact of funding In 2015, the Unlocking Thesis Data project took a snapshot of progress in the application of thesis DOIs and student ORCID iDs across the UK, and recommended some actions for institutions, repository systems, and the British Librarys EThOS service.

Unlocking Thesis Data phase one

Unlocking Thesis Data (UTD) is a community-driven project to promote the use of persistent identifiers for theses, their underlying data and their authors. By their very nature, PhD theses break new ground and advance scholarly knowledge. Most make use of newly-created data but these data can be trapped in an appendix or DVD – either unavailable or not suited for reuse. UTD will make data more discoverable and citeable, thereby offering incentives to students to share their data in more appropriate formats, in the context of a sustainable national thesis framework. Funded by Jisc, UTD is led by the Universities of East London and Southampton and EThOS (the UK’s national thesis service at the British Library). Phase one will explore current thesis practice through an online survey to EThOS member institutions, and individual case studies looking at the issues in more detail – including how institutions might apply DOI and ORCID identifiers. The survey and case study findings will be combined into a report with recommendations for further phases of the project. These are expected to enhance metadata and software for applying DOI and ORCID identifiers, to test them in live settings, and to offer comprehensive advice for institutions to adopt them. By summer 2016 we expect to have a sustainable infrastructure covering the whole UK, driving the wider availability of research data and introducing doctoral students to new norms of scholarly communication.

Unlocking Thesis Data Phase 1 baseline survey data

Data from online survey carried out as a baseline for the Unlocking Thesis Data project, to determine current practices around handling theses in British universities. The data covers questions on technology platforms, who is responsible for depositing and publishing electronic theses, and current use of or plans for persistent identifiers (ORCID and DOI) relating to theses and any underlying data objects.

Unlocking Thesis Data University of Leicester case study

Case study of thesis processes at the University of Leicester designed to inform subsequent phases of the Unlocking Thesis Data project. Includes recommendations for Leicester to assign ORCID and DOI identifiers at appropriate points in the research student journey.

Unlocking Thesis Data University of Bristol case study

Case study of thesis processes at the University of Bristol designed to inform subsequent phases of the Unlocking Thesis Data project. Includes recommendations for Bristol to assign ORCID and DOI identifiers at appropriate points in the research student journey.

Unlocking Thesis Data: Phase 1 survey of UK Higher Education Institutions

As part of the Unlocking Thesis Data project, an online survey aimed to understand the current situation for print and electronic thesis in UK universities as it relates to thesis identifiers, thesis authors, uptake of DOI identifiers in HE institutions for other research outputs, and the management of supplementary data files and raw data produced in the course of a PhD. This report presents data and analysis from the survey, together with indicators for further action in the project.

A comparative analysis of disciplinary data management workflows

Datasets are now an integral part of scholarly communication. The result is that research data has now become a reality in library and information science, and its curation requires dedicated workflows. Here, we compare two disciplinary examples from High-Energy Physics and Humanities and Social Sciences, both referenced to the OAIS conceptual model. Even though we know that the research datasets and their metadata (preparation and curation) are very different in both disciplines, it can be seen that the conceptual workflow models are very similar, including the assignment of persistent identifiers (PIDs). The latter is particularly interesting when discussing the design and implementation of transdisciplinary services in library and information science.