Restore: Promoting Sustainable Research Methods and Resources

Date:

2010-2013

Theme:

Digital Libraries

Funding:

ESRC (RES-576-25-0023)

The delivery of technology-enhanced learning is of increasing relevance to the training and development of researchers in the social sciences. Online resources not only provide a valuable personal development resource for researchers unable to participate in face-to-face training, but also provide an important repository of social science knowledge. There has been a considerable ESRC investment in online resources through initiatives such as the Research Methods Programme (RMP), the Researcher Development Initiative (RDI), Quantitative Methods Initiative (QMI) and the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM).

The development of an online resource is time-consuming and expensive and the full value of the resource only comes into play close to the point at which funding ends. Following the completion of the initial award, the value of the resource will often deteriorate, seriously limiting the returns on the initial investment by ESRC.

The purpose of the ReStore project is to come up with a solution to this problem. The project is the result of extended discussion between RMP, NCRM and ESRC and is hosted by the NCRM Hub.

Primary investigators

• Professor DJ Martin
• Les Carr
• Dr J Seale
• Professor CJ Skinner

Associated research group

• Intelligence, Agents, Multimedia Group