Lurking in the Lab: Analysis of Data from Molecular Biology Laboratory Instruments
OBJECTIVE: This project examined primary research data files found on instruments in a molecular biology teaching laboratory. Experimental data files were analyzed in order to learn more about the types of data generated by these instruments (e.g. file formats), and to evaluate current laboratory da...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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UMass Chan Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of eScience Librarianship |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.7191/jeslib.2012.1019 |
| _version_ | 1797966254999339008 |
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| author | Jen Ferguson |
| author_facet | Jen Ferguson |
| author_sort | Jen Ferguson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: This project examined primary research data files found on instruments in a molecular biology teaching laboratory. Experimental data files were analyzed in order to learn more about the types of data generated by these instruments (e.g. file formats), and to evaluate current laboratory data management practices.SETTING: This project examined experimental data files from instruments in a teaching laboratory at Brandeis University.METHODOLOGY: Experimental data files and associated metadata on instrument hard drives were captured and analyzed using Xplorer2 software. Formats were categorized as proprietary or open, and characteristics such as file naming conventions were noted. Discussions with the faculty member and lab staff guided the project scope and informed the findings.RESULTS: Files in both proprietary and open formats were found on the instrument hard drives. 62% of the experimental data files were in proprietary formats. Image files in various formats accounted for the most prevalent types of data found. Instrument users varied widely in their approaches to data management tasks such as file naming conventions.CONCLUSIONS: This study found inconsistent approaches to managing data on laboratory instruments. Prevalence of proprietary file formats is a concern with this type of data. Students express frustration in working with these data, and files in these proprietary formats could pose curation and preservation challenges in the future. Teaching labs afford an opportunity for librarians interested in learning more about primary research data and data management practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:12:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69a95cf867794832a4b1ac842a68abb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2161-3974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T02:12:52Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | UMass Chan Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of eScience Librarianship |
| spelling | doaj.art-69a95cf867794832a4b1ac842a68abb52023-01-03T01:49:56ZengUMass Chan Medical School, Lamar Soutter LibraryJournal of eScience Librarianship2161-39742012-01-0113148158Lurking in the Lab: Analysis of Data from Molecular Biology Laboratory InstrumentsJen FergusonOBJECTIVE: This project examined primary research data files found on instruments in a molecular biology teaching laboratory. Experimental data files were analyzed in order to learn more about the types of data generated by these instruments (e.g. file formats), and to evaluate current laboratory data management practices.SETTING: This project examined experimental data files from instruments in a teaching laboratory at Brandeis University.METHODOLOGY: Experimental data files and associated metadata on instrument hard drives were captured and analyzed using Xplorer2 software. Formats were categorized as proprietary or open, and characteristics such as file naming conventions were noted. Discussions with the faculty member and lab staff guided the project scope and informed the findings.RESULTS: Files in both proprietary and open formats were found on the instrument hard drives. 62% of the experimental data files were in proprietary formats. Image files in various formats accounted for the most prevalent types of data found. Instrument users varied widely in their approaches to data management tasks such as file naming conventions.CONCLUSIONS: This study found inconsistent approaches to managing data on laboratory instruments. Prevalence of proprietary file formats is a concern with this type of data. Students express frustration in working with these data, and files in these proprietary formats could pose curation and preservation challenges in the future. Teaching labs afford an opportunity for librarians interested in learning more about primary research data and data management practices.http://dx.doi.org/10.7191/jeslib.2012.1019Primary research dataData curationData preservationFile formatProprietaryTeachingManagement |
| spellingShingle | Jen Ferguson Lurking in the Lab: Analysis of Data from Molecular Biology Laboratory Instruments Journal of eScience Librarianship Primary research data Data curation Data preservation File format Proprietary Teaching Management |
| title | Lurking in the Lab: Analysis of Data from Molecular Biology Laboratory Instruments |
| title_full | Lurking in the Lab: Analysis of Data from Molecular Biology Laboratory Instruments |
| title_fullStr | Lurking in the Lab: Analysis of Data from Molecular Biology Laboratory Instruments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lurking in the Lab: Analysis of Data from Molecular Biology Laboratory Instruments |
| title_short | Lurking in the Lab: Analysis of Data from Molecular Biology Laboratory Instruments |
| title_sort | lurking in the lab analysis of data from molecular biology laboratory instruments |
| topic | Primary research data Data curation Data preservation File format Proprietary Teaching Management |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.7191/jeslib.2012.1019 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jenferguson lurkinginthelabanalysisofdatafrommolecularbiologylaboratoryinstruments |