Data users and depositors are being urged to give their views on using the UK Data Service.
The call comes as the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is conducting a mid-term review of the Service, which is hosted by teams at the University of Essex, University of Manchester, University of Southampton, University of Edinburgh, University College London and Jisc. The review is taking place at the halfway point of the UK Data Service’s funding period and concerns its progress and achievements between 1st October 2017 and 31st March 2020.
The ESRC would like data users and depositors to respond to a short survey whilst also giving them the opportunity to provide additional written feedback. The survey does not take long to complete and will provide an important independent perspective to aid the review panel in ascertaining how valuable the service is to users and the role it has to play in the future of research in the UK and beyond.
Director of the UK Data Service, Matthew Woollard, said: “We’re aware that researchers are plagued by surveys, but this is really the best opportunity for you to tell our funders what’s good (and what’s not so good) about the UK Data Service, and explain what we could be doing to make access to research data easier and more straightforward. Please take 10 to 15 minutes to complete the survey and help the ESRC understand the significance of the UK Data Service.”
All responses to the survey will be treated as confidential and sensitive, and will only be viewed by the ESRC office and the review panel, which is made up of independent academics and data experts. Respondents will remain anonymous, both individually and as a contributing organisation, and submissions will not be used for purposes other than this review and other associated ESRC activity.
More details can be found in SurveyMonkey. The deadline to complete the survey is Monday 20th July 2020.