Tracking the effectiveness of research data management training

Much work has been done on scoping researcher requirements when it comes to Research Data Management (RDM) training and support. However, despite community agreement that implementation of effective RDM techniques rather than just training is the critical factor in producing good quality reusable data, there has been less research on the effectiveness and impact of training and support. This paper contributes to this literature by asking participants in Research Data Management training workshops organized by the GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences how and if implemented knowledge gained from our workshops. GESIS launched its Archive and Data Management Training Center in 2011. The center provides introductory level training for a pan-European audience of researchers in RDM. Since its establishment, the center has held four workshops attended by 60 people from 12 European nations. As part of our workshops we gather profiles of participants — their research type, discipline, why they attend, and initial workshop evaluations, thereby building up a profile of our audience that allows us to gain impressions of the effectiveness of training that could have wider lessons for the RDM community.