# README: Quantitative Assessment of Research Data Management Practices - 2023

## Dataset Overview
This dataset contains aggregated and anonymized survey results from the **2023 Quantitative Assessment of Research Data Management (RDM) Practices** survey. The survey was conducted across several Swiss higher education institutions (HEIs) with the goal of collecting insights into how researchers manage their research data and code throughout the lifecycle of their projects. 

The dataset includes key information about:
- Storage and backup solutions
- Data sharing and collaboration platforms
- Documentation and metadata usage
- Compliance with legal and ethical standards (GDPR and Swiss FADP)
- Long-term data preservation strategies
- Use of open formats and open-source software
- Adoption of data management plans (DMPs)

The survey included some conditional questions. For example, participants’ affiliation to an institution triggered questions specific to their department and relevant RDM-related services. Apart from these, the majority of questions were the same across all institutions. Conditional branching was also used for in-depth exploration of certain RDM practices, such as metadata usage. In these cases, a shorter version of the questionnaire was provided for most respondents, while additional, more specific questions were presented to those with relevant experience.

This dataset is intended to inform the development of academic RDM services for researchers at the involved institutions.

## File Inventory
- **CSV and XLSX files**: Aggregated, anonymized data from the survey.
- **PDF files**: Graphical representations of the survey results, automatically generated by the SurveyHero platform in landscape and portrait modes.
- **This README file**: Provides contextual documentation for understanding and using the dataset.

## Survey questions
Below is the ordered list of questions asked in the survey:

### A. Storage & Backup  
1. Where do you store your research data / code, even temporarily?  
2. On which storage solution(s) do you have a collaborative access with others to share data / code?  
3. Where do you backup your research data / code?  
4. How do you backup your research data/code?  
5. How frequently do you perform backups?

### B. Organization & Documentation  
1. Which kind of documentation do you produce to accompany your data / code?  
2. How do you manage versions of your data / code?  
3. Do you follow a naming convention for files / folders?  
4. Do you know any metadata standards?  
5. Do you use any metadata standards?  
6. Please, indicate the exact name of your metadata standard(s).

### C. Formats & Software  
1. Do you use / produce open format files or open source code / software?  
2. What type of software / platform do you use while working with data / code?  
3. Do you use / need a specific tool for writing DMPs (Data Management Plans)?

### D. Governance & Compliance  
1. With whom do you share your research data / code?  
2. What is your role?  
3. In average, how many hours of work do you put every week into managing data / code?  
4. Who sets for you the rules for managing your data / code?  
5. Do you work with personal / sensitive data? And has your project undergone an official ethics review?

### E. Publication & Preservation  
1. Where do you publish / disseminate your data / code (or plan to)?  
2. Under what license(s) do you publish / disseminate your data / code (or plan to)?  
3. Where do you archive / preserve your data / code for the long-term (or plan to)?

### F. Support & Training  
1. Which service / support have you consulted for these various data / code management topics?  
2. What type of support are you most receptive to?  
3. Please, share with us your suggestions for RDM support or training.


## Provenance and Contributors
The dataset was collected using the **SurveyHero** platform and follows ethical standards in line with GDPR and Swiss FADP regulations. No personal identifiable information was collected, and data has been aggregated to ensure respondents' privacy.

The survey was a collaborative project involving the following people from the respective institutions:
- **Katharina Hoffmann** (FHNW) - katharina.hoffmann@fhnw.ch
- **Marisa Eberle** (FHNW) - marisa.eberle@fhnw.ch
- **Fabian Schmid** (ETH Zürich) - fabian.schmid@library.ethz.ch
- **Christian Förster** (Eawag) - christian.foerster@eawag.ch
- **Fabian Felder** (Lib4RI) - fabian.felder@lib4ri.ch
- **Daniela Subotic** (DaSCH) - daniela.subotic@dasch.swiss
- **Chiara Gabella** (EPFL) - chiara.gabella@epfl.ch
- **Francesco Varrato** (EPFL) - francesco.varrato@epfl.ch

## Methodology
The survey was conducted from August to September 2023 across five Swiss institutions: EPFL, ETH Zürich, Eawag, FHNW, and DaSCH. The survey gathered responses from researchers across various disciplines and career stages to understand their data management practices.

## Ethical and Legal Compliance
This dataset was collected and processed in full compliance with:
- **GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)**: Ensures the privacy and protection of personal data.
- **Swiss FADP (Federal Act on Data Protection)**: Aligns with Swiss regulations for data privacy.

**Data Processor**: enuvo GmbH (SurveyHero platform) acted as the data processor under a signed Data Processing Agreement (DPA).

## Reuse and Licensing
This dataset is openly available under the **CC-BY 4.0** license. You are free to share, copy, distribute, and adapt the dataset, provided appropriate credit is given to the contributors.

## Citation (Harvard Style)
Gabella, C., Varrato, F., Hoffmann, K., Schmid, F., Subotic, D., Förster, C., Eberle, M., and Felder, F., 2023. Quantitative Assessment of Research Data Management Practices - 2023. EPFL, ETH Zürich, Eawag, FHNW, DaSCH. [Dataset] Available at: <https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13836948> [Accessed Day Month Year]. Licensed under a CC-BY 4.0 license.

## Contact Information
For further inquiries about this dataset, please contact:
- **Chiara Gabella** (EPFL) - chiara.gabella@epfl.ch
- **Francesco Varrato** (EPFL) - francesco.varrato@epfl.ch
