{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,5]],"date-time":"2025-07-05T18:41:01Z","timestamp":1751740861353,"version":"3.40.5"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"Ubiquity Press, Ltd.","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,25]],"date-time":"2024-03-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1711324800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["CODATA"],"abstract":"<jats:p>At-risk data is an unfortunate research reality and can be present in all data formats in a range of research disciplines. This is defined as data that are at risk of loss due to various factors, including deterioration of the media, lack of accompanying documentation and data that exists in non-digital formats, which are often irreplaceable. Continued access to older data has a range of benefits. The factors that place valuable data at risk are therefore a cause for concern. This paper reports on a multi-method case study, comprising a survey and interviews. A web-based questionnaire was distributed to all research group leaders based at a leading South African research institute. This was followed by one-on-one interviews that were held with a sub-section of the same group of researchers. The combined findings of the two methods enabled a picture to be formed regarding factors that jeopardise research data, data rescue obstacles that the researchers encountered and the state of data rescue at the institute.\nSeveral recommendations and strategies are put forward to address identified risk factors and challenges. Suggestions include the launch of a data rescue project, awareness training around data at risk, involving the institute\u2019s library and information services (LIS) section in data rescue and launching continued efforts to acquire a dedicated institutional data repository. It is also important to ensure that the scope of project risk management includes data considerations. The combined implementation of recommendations is anticipated to ensure the accessibility and usability of older at-risk data and reduce the chances of current and future data becoming compromised.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.5334\/dsj-2024-011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,25]],"date-time":"2024-03-25T11:02:04Z","timestamp":1711364524000},"page":"11","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Risky Business: Data-At-Risk in a Dynamic and Evolving Multidisciplinary Research Environment"],"prefix":"10.5334","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8067-8545","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Louise H.","family":"Patterton","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7850-3263","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Theo J. D.","family":"Bothma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9776-1177","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martie J.","family":"Van Deventer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"3285","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,25]]},"reference":[{"volume-title":"Research Methods: Statistics, and Applications","year":"2015","key":"key20240325070148_B1"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B2","unstructured":"Akba Yrak, B. 2000. A comparison of two data collecting methods: Interviews and questionnaires. Hacettepe \u00dcniversitesi E\u011fitim Fak\u00fcltesi Dergisi, 18: 1\u201310. 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Available at https:\/\/us.dissertationteam.com\/blog\/limitations-of-a-study\/ [Last accessed 20 November 2024]."},{"key":"key20240325070148_B9","first-page":"4452","article-title":"Data rescue to extend the value of vintage seismic data: The OGS-SNAP experience","volume":"6","year":"2015","journal-title":"GeoResJ"},{"year":"2015","key":"key20240325070148_B10","article-title":"Data rescue at a scientific data center"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B11","unstructured":"Downs, RR and Chen, RS. 2017. Curation of scientific data at risk of loss. Data rescue and dissemination. In: Johnston, LR (ed.), Curating Research Data: Practical Strategies for your Digital Repository, pp. 263\u2013277. Available at https:\/\/academiccommons.columbia.edu\/doi\/10.7916\/D8W09BMQ [Last accessed 18 November 2023]."},{"key":"key20240325070148_B12","unstructured":"Esurv. 2019. Make online surveys for free! Available at https:\/\/esurv.org\/ [Last accessed 8 December 2019]."},{"key":"key20240325070148_B13","first-page":"124134","article-title":"The process of bringing dark data to light: The rescue of the early Nimbus satellite data","volume":"6","year":"2015","journal-title":"GeoResJ"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B14","unstructured":"Gaudin, S. 2017. Coders and librarians team up to save scientific data. ComputerWorld, 20 March. Available at https:\/\/www.computerworld.com\/article\/3182384\/data-storage\/coders-and-librarians-team-up-to-save-scientific-data.html [Last accessed 17 November 2023]."},{"key":"key20240325070148_B15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1016\/j.grj.2015.02.004","article-title":"When are old data new data?","volume":"6","year":"2015","journal-title":"GeoResJ"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B16","unstructured":"Guest Blogger. 2017. How data refuge works, and how YOU can help save federal open data. Sunlight Foundation, 6 February. 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Available at https:\/\/www.clir.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/pub154.pdf [Last accessed 7 February 2024]."},{"issue":"1","key":"key20240325070148_B22","first-page":"1","article-title":"Comparing Skype (video calling) and in-person qualitative interview modes in a study of people with irritable bowel syndrome \u2013 an exploratory comparative analysis","volume":"19","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Medical Research Methodology"},{"volume-title":"Practical Research: Planning and Design","year":"2005","key":"key20240325070148_B23"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B24","first-page":"46-71","article-title":"The UNESCO-IOC-IODE \u201cGlobal Oceanographic Data Archaeology and Rescue\u201d (GODAR) Project and \u201cWorld Ocean Database\u201d Project","volume":"11","year":"2012","journal-title":"Data Science Journal"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B25","article-title":"Rescuing biogeographic legacy data: The \u201cThor\u201d expedition, a historical oceanographic expedition to the Mediterranean Sea","volume":"4","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biodiversity Data Journal"},{"issue":"1","key":"key20240325070148_B26","first-page":"15","article-title":"Risk assessment for scientific data","volume":"19","year":"2020","journal-title":"Data Science Journal"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B27","article-title":"Internet-based surveys: Relevance, methodological considerations and troubleshooting strategies","volume":"33","year":"2020","journal-title":"General Psychiatry"},{"year":"2015","key":"key20240325070148_B28","article-title":"Rescuing early digital assets and preserving data rescue capabilities"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B29","unstructured":"Munch, J. 2020. How to discuss your study\u2019s limitations effectively. Available at https:\/\/www3.mdanderson.org\/library\/about\/pdf\/write-stuff\/spring-2020.pdf [Last accessed 20 February 2024]."},{"key":"key20240325070148_B30","first-page":"207219","article-title":"Data at risk initiative: Examining and facilitating the scientific process in relation to endangered data","volume":"12","year":"2014","journal-title":"Data Science Journal"},{"volume-title":"Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches","year":"2014","key":"key20240325070148_B31"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1038\/468017a","article-title":"Researchers launch hunt for endangered data","volume":"468","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B33","unstructured":"Patterton, L, Bothma, TJD and Van Deventer, MJ. 2018. From planning to practice: An action plan for the implementation of research data management services in resource-constrained institutions. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 84(2): 14\u201326. Available at https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/10520\/EJC-141a9acd34 [Last accessed 17 November 2023]."},{"journal-title":"Research data management at the VSIR: An exploratory survey","year":"2014","key":"key20240325070148_B34"},{"key":"key20240325070148_B35","unstructured":"Patterton, LH. 2016. Research data management practices of emerging researchers at a South African research council. Dissertation (MIS), University of Pretoria, Pretoria. Available at http:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/2263\/59502 [Last accessed 18 November 2023]."},{"key":"key20240325070148_B36","unstructured":"Patterton, LH. 2023a. Data rescue: Defining a comprehensive workflow that includes the roles and responsibilities of the research library. Thesis (PhD), University of Pretoria, Pretoria. 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