Analysis and Development of a Research Data Policy Framework for Higher Education Institutions

Academic funders, publishers, and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have developed research data policies gradually since research data have been regarded as crucial scholarly evidence and assets. However, there has not been a study analyzed composed items and framework of HEIs’ research data policies. This study aims to examine the evolutional development of research data policies including whether policies are an individual document or a part of other policies, the relationship between policies and other related documents, and components of HEIs’ research data policies, through by analyzing 39 research data policies selected from top-ranked HEIs. In addition to content analysis of components listed in the HEIs’ research data policy, the study has found that influence and reference relationships have existed between HEIs’ research data policies and other documents. According to analysis of components of HEIs’ research data policies, this study has also built up a framework composed of four categories as follows: general, planning, data stewardship and monitoring. And this study furthering divided components of four categories into mandatory, recommendatory and optional. It is also suggested to develop HEI’s data policy through promotion by national-level policy, encourage libraries collaborating with related stakeholders to frame data publishing and citation norms and offer research data services in terms of requirements of research process.