We run regular online presentations by guest speakers on different aspects of research. Recordings of past webinars are also available.
A collaboration between the Indigenous Research Network and the RMIT University Library, hear from Professor Gary Thomas, Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous Education, Research and Engagement, and Professor Matt Duckham, Director Information in Society Enabling Impact Platform (EIP), as they discuss and explore considerations and ethical implications inherent in open research practices involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In addition, we’ll gain insights from Indigenous researchers as we delve into the principles of ethical research. We’ll explore how to respect and uphold the integrity of Traditional Knowledge and cultural heritage in data sharing, publishing, citation practices and the ethical navigation required when working with Indigenous knowledge.
The Kaleide Theatre is located in Building 8, 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne.
Date, time & place: May 1, 2.00pm - 3.30pm at the Kaleide Theatre, and live streamed.
Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay
Research data is the information, records, and files that are collected or used during the research process. Data may be numerical, descriptive, visual, raw, analysed, experimental, or observational.
Some examples of research data include:
Research data does not include references, literature reviews, or the end product of the research undertaken such as a published article.
The Australian National Data Service (ANDS) explains more about: What is research data?
Grant and funding bodies require research data to be managed through its lifecycle. You may need to provide information about the data or the data itself, for example, some journals require it or you may want to patent an invention.
Creating a research data management plan at the start of the research project is the simplest way to save time in the collection, description, analysis, and reuse of the data. Effective management and documentation of research data means you can verify your research results, replicate the research, and provide access to data.
Image: "The Research Data Management Lifecycle" by The University of California, Santa Cruz, Library is licensed under CC BY 4.0
The FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) were drafted at a Lorentz Center workshop in Leiden in the Netherlands in 2015, and have since received worldwide recognition by various organisations, including FORCE11, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the European Commission, as a useful framework for thinking about sharing data in a way that will enable maximum use and reuse. They are a way of thinking about getting the most out of your research data, and its place in the wider researcher community.
Can your data be found if someone is looking for it? Does it have a DOI or a Handle? Does it have rich metadata? Is it discoverable through a research portal or a repository?
Does your data utilise a standardised protocol? Your data does not necessarily have to be "open" - there are sometimes good reasons why data cannot be made open, i.e. privacy concerns, national security, or commercial interests - but if it is not there should be clarity and transparency around the conditions governing access and reuse.
To be interoperable the data will need to use community agreed formats, language, and vocabularies. Will someone who finds your data be able to meaningfully reuse it, and build or reproduce your work? The metadata you use will also need to use community agreed standards and vocabularies, and contain links to related information using identifiers.
Reusable data should maintain its initial richness. For example, it should not be diminished for the purpose of explaining the findings in one particular publication. It needs a clear machine-readable licence and provenance information on how the data was formed. It should also have discipline-specific data and metadata standards to give it rich contextual information that will allow for reuse.
The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance guide appropriate use and reuse of Indigenous data. This set of principles indicates the significant and crucial role of data in advancing Indigenous innovation and self-determination.
Data ecosystems should be designed and function in ways that enable Indigenous Peoples to derive benefit from the data.
Indigenous Peoples' rights and interests in Indigenous data must be recognised and their authority to control such data should be empowered. Indigenous data governance enables Indigenous Peoples to determine how they are represented within data.
Those working with Indigenous data have a responsibility to share how this data is used to support Indigenous Peoples' self-determination and collective benefit.
Indigenous Peoples' rights and wellbeing should be the primary concern at all stages of the data life cycle.