Remit

To determine whether we can share data amongst disciplines and how we can promote the development of data sets that have interdisciplinary value.

Core Members

Andrea Schalley (Chair); Michael Wagner; Linda Barwick; Steven Bird

HCS Executive Contact Point

Robert Dale [Chair, Finance and Publicity]

Comments

In the original proposal, we suggested a number of activities we might engage in with respect to data gathering and sharing; see the Appendix for the relevant extract from the proposal. The underlying assumptions here are that (a) resource sharing is both possible and economically efficient; and (b) new interdisciplinary research might be motivated by shared data sets.

The terms of our funding allow us to develop or purchase shared research resources that would not be eligible for funding by other ARC schemes, including social surveys, software tools, and databases (see excerpt from the guidelines and another from the funding agreement below). Whether we should simply provide web links to existing lists of corpus and data repositories, provide guidelines for data storage, engage in substantial data gathering is a matter for discussion. We have earmarked funding for two days per week of a 'data server manager’ .

Note that the ARC Funding Rules permit the funding of the development or purchase of shared research resources that would not be eligible for funding by other ARC schemes, including social surveys, software tools, and databases.

Note also from the funding agreement:

B8. Social Science Data Sets: Any machine-readable data arising from a Research Network involving research relating to the social sciences should be lodged with the Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Inc (ACSPRI) or any other appropriate archive for secondary use by other investigators. This should normally be done within two years of the conclusion of any fieldwork relating to the Research Network research. If a Network Convenor is not intending to do so within the two-year period, s/he should include the reasons in the final report.

Target Deliverables

By January 27th 2005:
* A five minute presentation on possible activities in this area.

By February 22nd 2005:
* A status report on where the Working Group has got to (pdf format), incorporating ideas generated at the HCSNet Launch Meeting and subsequent discussion.

By April 1st 2005, a report that:

• identifies what we can contribute to the increased awareness and sharing of existing data sets, along with an indication of the costs and benefits; and

• identifies how HCSNet might best contribute to the creation of new datasets that support interdisciplinary research.