Research in archives and records management

1
Research in archives and records management

• Dr Elizabeth Shepherd
• e.shepherd_at_ucl.ac.uk

2
Practice versus research

• Terry Cook (University of Manitoba, Canada)
• discipline v profession
• theory v practice
• education v training
• new digital recordkeeping approaches v
  traditional cultural heritage priorities
• Sarah McNicol quoting Booth
• research-practice gap

3
The role of research

• builds theories and models as frameworks for
  practice
• develops knowledge base, understanding of
  professions ethos and societal role
• promotes critical enquiry and analysis, allows
  sophisticated articulation of concepts
• facilitates standardisation, planning
  evaluation
• examines policy development execution
• practitioner research

4
Framework for sustainability in research

• A shared understanding
• Setting strategic research priorities
• Funding streams
• Critical mass
• Research collaboration
• Identifying gaps and building depth
• Improved dissemination

5
Archives and Records Management Research Network
(ARMReN)Funded by the Arts and Humanities
Research Council (AHRC), 2006-2007

• What is ARMReN for?
• help develop research in the discipline of
  archives and records management
• link academics in archives and records management
  with researchers who use archives and
  professionals who manage records
• collect and disseminate information about
  research
• foster the development of new academic
  researchers in the discipline
• act as a central point for the exchange of ideas
• encourage new collaborative partnerships (UK,
  Europe, internationally)

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Archives and Records Management Research Network
(ARMReN)

• What has ARMReN done?
• created a website with an electronic forum and
  information resource lthttp//www.slais.ucl.ac.uk/r
  esearch-ARMReNgt
• organised three one-day research workshops
  Access and impact Appraisal and collecting
  Description
• run three Archives and History seminars at the
  Institute of Historical Research, University of
  London
• disseminate results through conference papers and
  a journal article

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Mapping the Research Landscape(British Academy
research grant)

• Aims to improve the quality and quantity of
  academic research in archives and records
  management by creating a map of the research
  landscape for the discipline in the UK.
• Research objectives
• Identify research projects in the discipline in
  the UK, 1995-2006
• Identify areas of professional practice with
  research potential
• Assess areas of weakness success
• Propose future research priorities as the basis
  for a UK research agenda

8
How does research fit into graduate education for
archivists and records managers?

• Professional qualifications
• develop professional skills and knowledge
• underpinned by history and theory
• critical enquiry
• Masters thesis

9
Research in archives and records managementDr
Elizabeth Shepherde.shepherd_at_ucl.ac.uk