Findings
The Data Audit Framework methodology was tested in four pilot audits by the development team partners. The online tool that was subsequently developed was tested by King's College London. The findings from these early audits and the tool test are provided below. The results from the Edinburgh pilot implementation and early adopters are also available. The final reports from the other pilot implementation projects will be linked to as they are released.
DAF Development project findings
Lessons learned from the intial four pilot audits
A scenario-based test report providing feedback on the usability of the online tool from the auditor's perspective
The DAFD project final report
Findings from pilot implementations and early adopters
University of Edinburgh pilot implementation project final report
Imperial College pilot implementation project final report
A University of Oxford case study on using the Data Audit Framework
The Southampton data survey - a report on using DAF as part of the DataShare project
Initial feedback on using the Framework has been positive. Audits have provided useful insights into data managment practices and helped identify areas in which staff require support. The volume of data being created and held by HE instituions makes it impractical to complete comprehensive audits. Instead, inventories have been created using sampling methods, or emphasis has been placed on the assessment stage to survey staff working practices and identify risks. Audits need to be tailored to match the original motivation and deliver expected outcomes. As such the scope of each audit - i.e what consitutes a 'data asset' and level of granularity to adopt - as well as approaches used, vary significantly. The methodology was designed to be non-prescriptive and flexible to ensure it could be applied in different ways. Additional lessons learned by early implementors will continue to be shared through this site.
The main issues researchers were found to face centred on storage shortages, lack of data policies and procedures, and the responsibility of long-term curation when repository support, skilled staff and resourcing was not available. These findings have been summarised for a paper in the IJDC Useful suggestions have also been made regarding implementation of the DAF methodology and use of the online tool. We hope to follow up on these, for example by adding more guidance on implementation in the form of interview / questionnaire templates, best practice examples, FAQs and an online tool manual.
Some longer-term outcomes of the project are starting to emerge. The Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh are exploring training options in collaboration with the DCC in response to requirements for support identified in the studies. A preservation policy study is also underway at the University of Glasgow, prompted by DAF findings and emerging policy drivers.
Data Audit framework
