A utilização e produção de imagens em contexto de investigação: contribuições para boas práticas de gestão de dados em formato de imagem

Abstract

In the past few decades, we have seen the production of large amounts of data in science. This data intensive science is due in part to the technological and scientific developments of the mid-20th century, which produced new methods, tools and instruments that produce data. In this context, it is necessary to create mechanisms that guarantee the efficient use of data for the longest possible period. Research data management plays an essential role in ensuring that data is easily located, acessible, less likely to be lost and more usable, both during an investigation and in the future. Images are also used as research data, constituting a fundamental informative element in research projects. In the scope of research data management, the problem of image management has been little addressed. This dissertation describes the study of the practices and habits of researchers in image management and also recommends practices for this management. A methodological approach involves creating and using a questionnaire and conducting interviews with researchers to learn about practices in the production and use of images. The information collected was analyzed and used in the development of the recommendations. These recommendations take the form of a guide to manage images in research and a metadata model to help researchers describe their images. Its primary objective is to foster good research data management practices in image format. The metadata model underwent by an evaluation session performed by researchers The results obtained allow us to demonstrate that images are effectively used as research data, although the researchers are not aware of their management. Similar and different habits were also found in different domains and frequencies of image use. The evaluation of the metadata model was positive and it was considered useful by the researchers.