Libby Bishop
Research Liaison
UK Data Archive
How did you become involved in the world of data?:
I googled 'qualitative data' and 'job description' and found an opening at the UK Data Archive. I was living in San Francisco at the time, Jan 2003, and after a phone interview (and many hectic weeks of packing), my husband and I moved to the UK.
What do you value most about your membership in IASSIST?:
Not having to explain what data archiving is when I meet new people.
What was your favorite IASSIST conference?:
Palo Alto - great to connect my worlds by having UK Data Archive and California colleagues meet.
What is your favorite data set?:
That is as impossible as picking a favourite food, but I am partial to the National Child Development Survey, 1958 cohort, followup qualitative interviews. This is currently being processed and will be released in March.
What are some things you are working on currently?:
Reports for our depositors (of qualitative data) about the usage of their datasets - much higher and more varied than they think.
Preparing for several workshops on teaching secondary analysis of qualitative data.
Monitoring how researchers are coping with preparing data management plans for their ESRC bids.
Editing galley proofs of an article on using qualitative data for teaching for IJSRM.
Writing a methods guide on ethical issues in archiving qualitative longitudinal data.
Et al.
When not working with data I…:
I run, swim, cook (enjoying Claudia Roden's books on Middle Eastern cooking), eat (finding ways to use new spices - sumac and za'tar), read (currently: The Emperor of All Maladies, by Mukherjee), and (I hope) start a new ballet class this term.
