Research data management involves all the processes and actions that ensure that research data is well organized, documented, stored, backed up, available, and reusable.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management and identification of research data problems and needs in the research process among Iranian information and knowledge researchers from five perspectives: production and collection, recording and processing, backup and maintenance, publishing, and sharing.
Data were collected through a questionnaire. The statistical population of the study consisted of 96 researchers, professors and postgraduate students in the field of information science and knowledge of Iranian universities. Excel software was used for statistical analysis of each question and the process of data aggregation and distribution were represented in frequency and percentage.
The results show that in the process of producing and collecting data, the most common type of data produced is experimental data, most of the data is generated in the form of textual and processed data from software, the frequency of data generation during the research. It has been very high for researchers on a monthly basis and the volume of data generated for each respondent is on average GB level.
In terms of data recording and processing, the most common way of recording data is in electronic documents. Different data processing software used are Excel and SPSS and then Word is the most used.
Most respondents use personal computers to back up data. It was found that most respondents did not use any appropriate research data management software.
In order to disseminate and share data, most respondents do not have sufficient knowledge of the sources, especially of their field magazines. They also have different views on journal data entry, but in fact they consider it a very good thing, while they are not well versed in the repositories and storage conditions and are most familiar with free access.
In terms of the need for research data sharing and management services, they all point to problems such as lack of data sharing, data loss, storage, dissemination and data security. Libraries and research centers are also considered to be the most appropriate organization for data management and require services such as policymaking, standardization for data collection, storage, dissemination, and sharing and data security. Finally, referral and accountability services, workshops, social workshops, and seminars are found to enhance research data management and data sharing.
Although the survey is conducted in the field of information science, it can be an inspiration for designing a site of library services for other disciplines, particularly in promoting, advising and managing data management, sharing research and research data storage.