Description
In response to the growing importance of research data management (RDM) across scientific disciplines, the German Society of Sport Science (dvs) established an ad hoc committee on Research Data Management in October 2022. The committee’s primary objective is to develop community-specific RDM guidelines that support sustainable, transparent, and open research practices within the diverse field of sport science. This initiative aligns with broader national and international efforts to foster responsible data stewardship and to address the practical challenges researchers face in their day-to-day work.
While RDM has become a central topic in research policy and funding, its implementation in everyday research activities remains uneven. Studies from various disciplines have highlighted a range of barriers, including limited awareness, lack of institutional support, concerns about data sensitivity, and uncertainty about legal and ethical frameworks. These challenges are particularly pronounced in interdisciplinary fields like sport science, where research often involves sensitive personal data, complex methodological designs, and diverse data types ranging from physiological measurements to video recordings and qualitative interviews.
To better understand the current landscape of RDM in sport science and to inform the development of practical, community-driven guidelines, the dvs ad hoc committee conducted a pilot survey between August and September 2023. The online survey was designed to capture a snapshot of RDM practices, knowledge, and needs among sport scientists in Germany. It consisted of three main sections: (1) demographic and professional characteristics of the participants, (2) current RDM practices across the research lifecycle, and (3) general knowledge and attitudes toward RDM.
A total of 122 researchers from all sections of the dvs participated in the survey, providing a broad and representative overview of the community. The results revealed a heterogeneous picture: while some researchers reported well-established practices in data documentation, storage, and sharing, others indicated significant gaps in knowledge and infrastructure. For example, many participants expressed uncertainty about how to handle sensitive data in compliance with data protection regulations, and only a minority reported using standardized metadata or data repositories. At the same time, there was a strong interest in improving RDM practices, with many respondents welcoming the idea of community-specific guidelines and training opportunities.
The survey findings underscore the need for targeted support mechanisms that address the specific challenges of sport science research. Based on the results, the dvs ad hoc committee has identified three core areas for future action:
1. Development of RDM Guidelines: The committee will draft practical, discipline-specific guidelines that reflect the realities of sport science research. These guidelines will cover key aspects such as data planning, documentation, storage, sharing, and long-term preservation, with a particular focus on ethical and legal considerations.
2. Handling of Sensitive Data: Given the prevalence of personal and health-related data in sport science, special attention will be given to the management of sensitive data. This includes guidance on informed consent, anonymization techniques, and secure data storage, as well as clarification of responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
3. Promotion of Best Practices: The committee aims to collect and disseminate examples of successful RDM strategies from within the community. These use cases will illustrate how researchers have integrated RDM into their workflows, navigated institutional and legal frameworks, and benefited from open data sharing.
By focusing on these three pillars—guidelines, sensitive data, and best practices—the committee seeks to foster a culture of responsible data stewardship in sport science. Importantly, the approach is grounded in the everyday realities of researchers and informed by empirical evidence from the community itself. This bottom-up strategy not only enhances the relevance and usability of the guidelines but also encourages broader engagement and ownership among researchers.
The pilot survey and the ongoing work of the committee offer valuable insights for other disciplines and professional societies facing similar challenges. They demonstrate how community-driven initiatives can bridge the gap between abstract RDM principles and practical implementation. Moreover, they highlight the importance of understanding disciplinary cultures and workflows when designing support structures for data stewardship.
In conclusion, this initiative represents a promising model for integrating RDM into the daily routines of researchers. By combining empirical research, community engagement, and practical guidance, it contributes to the broader goal of making research more transparent, reproducible, and sustainable. As the project evolves, it will not only support sport scientists in managing their data more effectively but also provide a foundation for future research on the facilitators and barriers to open and sustainable RDM practices.
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