oxford university computing services research information management tools for the humanities

Oxford University Computing Services

Research Information Management

Tools for the Humanities


You should have...

▪ A copy of the course handbook▫ Includes more information about the topics

covered in this presentation ▫ Plus step-by-step instructions for the

exercises

▪ Access to the exercise files

2


Information management

▪ How you organise all the source material, notes, and other documents that relate to your research

▪ Today’s session introduces some tools to help do this

3


Finding out about useful tools

▪ Research Skills Toolkit: http://www.skillstoolkit.ox.ac.uk/

▪ Bodleian Libraries WISER sessions▪ Colleagues and friends

▫ Suggestions of new tools▫ Tips and tricks for using old ones

▪ Google or other search engines

4

http://www.skillstoolkit.ox.ac.uk/


Desktop or online?

▪ Do you download the program, or log in to a website?

▪ Where do you normally work?▫ How many computers do you use?▫ Do you always have Internet access?

▪ Some tools offer both desktop and Web versions, for the best of both worlds

5


Data storage and security

▪ Where is your data stored?▫ On your hard drive?▫ On a Web service’s server?▫ On both?

▪ Are there any restrictions on what you can do with your data?▫ Confidentiality▫ Copyright

6


Safeguarding your data

▪ Online services are great, but what if...▫ The service was down for maintenance?▫ The site announced it was closing down?

▪ Can you export your data in a widely used format?

▫ The site disappeared overnight?▪ Do you have back up copies?

▪ Desktop services aren’t totally immune

7


Safeguarding yourself

▪ Don’t be paranoid, but do take reasonable precautions

▪ Check for reviews of unfamiliar software▪ Keep your anti-virus software up to date▪ Don’t reveal more personal information

than you’re comfortable with▫ Consider using an alternative email address

to register with websites

8


Organising electronic material

▪ What sort of system do you prefer?▪ Hierarchical?

▫ Files organised in folders and sub-folders

▪ Tag-based?▫ Each item has one or more tags or labels

▪ Each has strengths and weaknesses

9


Retrieving information

▪ The way we plan to retrieve information affects how we organise it

▪ Two main methods:▫ Location-based finding▫ Use a search function

▪ Greater use of searching may make us more efficient▫ Especially if we brush up search technique

10


Search utilities

▪ Search emails and Web history as well as files

▪ Index the contents of your computer for speedy searching▫ Though this can slow your computer down

▪ Common utilities include:▫ Google Desktop▫ Windows Search 4.0

11


Tools for tagging

▪ Tabbles▪ TaggedFrog▪ TaggTool▪ Gmail▪ For images:

▫ Flickr▫ Picasa

12


Bibliographic software

▪ EndNote▪ RefWorks▪ Zotero▪ ColWiz▪ Mendeley

13


Other tools

▪ Diigo▪ NVivo▪ AllMyNotes

Organizer▪ Stickies

14


Have a go!

▪ Try one or more of the exercises▪ Explore some of the tools that

have been mentioned

15


Integrating varied material

▪ How many types of information do you work with?

▪ Integrating material can save time▫ One collection to search instead of

several▫ Less likely to miss things▫ But you should only do it if it’s useful

16


Paper and electronic material

▪ No simple solution (sorry!)▪ Scanning and OCR

▫ Some photocopiers can also scan

▪ Digital pens▪ Integrated indexing

17


Electronic material

▪ One project may require several types of material

▪ Storing these together makes life easier

▪ Where this isn’t practical, a good search utility may still help

18


Useful tools

▪ OneNote▪ Planz▪ A.nnotate▪ Idea Rover▪ Scrivener

19


File synchronisation

▪ Useful for multiple computers

▪ Dropbox▪ SugarSync▪ Windows Live

Mesh20


Have a go!

▪ Try one or more of the exercises▪ Explore some of the tools that

have been mentioned

21


Databases

▪ Use of structured (and semi-structured) data growing in the humanities

▪ Databases and/or XML often underpin websites

▪ Word processors not ideal for every eventuality

22


Spreadsheets

▪ Use to analyse regular sets of information▫ Time series; census information; financial

accounts

▪ Useful for▫ Ordering lists▫ Numerical analysis▫ Creating charts and graphs

23


Relational databases

▪ Use to analyse complex data involving different (but connected) objects▫ Linked tables – each similar to a

spreadsheet

▪ Useful for▫ Flexibility▫ Identifying relationships▫ Structuring information for Web searching

24


XML (and XML databases)

▪ A means of tagging information so that it become machine-readable▫ Can indicate proper names, parts of

speech, variable readings, or any other characteristic of a section of text

▫ TEI XML is the standard for the humanities

▪ Useful for▫ Textual analysis▫ Preparing and presenting texts on the Web

25


RDF metadata

▪ A means of expressing relationships between data▫ Used in developing the ‘Semantic Web’

▪ Useful for▫ Integrating existing databases by mapping

metadata to a common standard▫ Network analysis

26


Useful websites and services

▪ Research Skills Toolkit▫ http://www.skillstoolkit.ox.ac.uk/

▪ Research Data Management website▫ http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rdm/

▪ InfoDev▫ http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/infodev/

▪ HFS back up service▫ http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/hfs/

27

http://www.skillstoolkit.ox.ac.uk/

http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rdm/

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/infodev/

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/hfs/


Have a go!

▪ In small groups, discuss the various scenarios in Exercise 7

▪ Be ready to feed back to the whole group at the end

28

oxford university computing services research information management tools for the humanities

Documents

data online services

desktop services arent

web services server

search engines

search technique

personal information

google desktop windows

exercise files