User Experience Research Report 2023

The VU RDM support has changed dramatically over the last three years, which affected both the staff and the researchers alike. The current research is a re-run of the user research done in 2020 with the main focus of understanding the progress being made over the last three years. However, this time the research includes two perspectives: the one of researchers and the one of the RDM support staff, covering representatives of the Library, Faculties, and IT. To properly compare the situation, the questions addressed to researchers stayed the same.

• How do researchers think about data management?

• How do researchers go about finding support for their data management practices?

• What are the obstacles the researchers face when finding such support?

• What do researchers wish they had in terms of RDM support?

The questions addressed to the staff were structured around the first four questions below. During the interviews with the staff members, it became evident that another, fifth area (not quite a question) of investigation should be added.

• What does RDM staff think of the RDM service at the VU?

• How has the development of the NeRDS changed the professional life of the RDM support staff? 

• What are the challenges the staff face?

• What do the RDM support staff need more support with?

• The birth of the new RDM staff member.