PhD Research Hypothesis: Where does the responsibility lie for assuring an academic research datum as reliable, robust

and fit for purpose for research users? Exploring provenance in a digital age.

Data Custodians

Research Users

Data Originators

ABSTRACT: Considers the use and reuse of academic research data by research users in a digital age. Research users now require greater assurance that an academic research datum is reliable, robust and fit for purpose. The case of Hwang and others illustrates how and why unreliable academic research data have been published by authoritative journals in a digital age. Evaluates existing best practices for assuring an academic research datum as reliable, robust and fit for purpose. Utilises a literature review, semi-structured interviews and three representative case studies within the sciences, social sciences and humanities to assess current practices. Considers where the responsibility should lie for assuring the quality of an academic research datum. Considers these factors within a provenance model. Determines how provenance might work better as a guarantor of quality academic research data. Tests the robustness of a model of provenance, as a new ethical, moral, legal, technical and social model for research users and producers within science, social science and humanities. Highlights key areas and grey areas for future work by legislators, web developers and others involved in the (re)use of academic research data. Delivers a code of best practice for Web Science researchers at the University of Southampton.
Laura German LLB (Hons), MSc (Dist.,) (Web Science).
Supervisory Team: Professor Mary Orr (Humanities), Professor Steve Saxby (Law), and Dr Les Carr (Computer Science)
Brief background: Third year Web Science PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Business and Law, University of Southampton.
Academic research interests include: information technology law, intellectual property law, data management/custodianship, data reusability, provenance metadata, open access, open data, repositories, knowledge transfer, academic publishing and empirical research methodologies. In 2010, graduated with a MSc in Web Science at the University of Southampton. In 2009, graduated with an undergraduate law degree at University of Southampton.

Academic Research Data Reusability

Web Science