The ARMA Survey on Research Culture 2020

Ahead of the annual ARMA Members Survey we’re inviting you to participate in a new survey of the experiences of those supporting and managing research. Later this month, you will receive the ARMA Members Survey which has a completely different focus and a very different question set! The ARMA Members Survey will ask you what you think about the benefits of ARMA membership, and how we can improve our range of services and initiatives.

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What is Research Culture?

Research culture encompasses the behaviours, values, expectations, attitudes and norms of our research communities. These include factors, both visible and invisible, which impact on and include what is valued, what is researched and how it is shared. It’s a complex ecosystem that incorporates a wide range of interconnected areas such as open research, equality, diversity an inclusion, and career development. Research culture is an all-encompassing term for an ecosystem involving different research stakeholders from higher education such as researchers and professional services staff, to funders, government, publishers, and the public.

Why this survey, why now?

Surveys on research culture have predominantly explored the researchers’ perspectives and are being used to inform how organisations can best respond to the vast array of new challenges we face in the fast-changing research landscape. We know that the research ecosystem is large and involves a lot of stakeholders and, as the national membership body for Research Managers and Administrators (RMAs), we are keen to explore RMAs’ experiences to better support the profession’s needs. This is the first ever survey to focus on the experiences of those who support, manage and design many of the polices, processes and strategies that inform research culture. We aim to ensure parity of esteem in experience and insights of the RMA community as we collectively shape the future of research.

Who should complete it?

Anyone who works in a role supporting research management and administration. This can be anyone of any level of seniority working in an administrative/technical research support/management capacity. Everyone’s views and experiences are welcome. You don’t need to be an ARMA member.

What does it involve and how long it will take?

This survey covers a range of areas which have been asked in comparable surveys, for consistency. Some of the questions will ask you about personal or sensitive topics but you have no obligation to answer. It should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and will take the following structure to ensure the most comprehensive range of perspectives:

1. General info of respondents
2. Career experiences
3. Leadership
4. Behavioural experiences
5. Wellbeing
6. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at work
7. Awareness of guidance/concordats
8. Responsibilities
9. What factors impact research culture?
10. What is the impact of research culture?
11. How ARMA can help
12. Equality monitoring of respondents

How the data will be used?

The results will be only be available to a small number of ARMA staff and any identifiable information will be anonymised during data processing so not to be included in any project outcomes or any material produced.

What will the outcomes be?

The results will be used to inform activity across the ARMA organisation, which includes training and development of RMA staff, as well as the production of freely available content for the sector such as reports and guides designed to collectively create the best research culture for RMA staff to thrive and help contribute to culture change.

Consent

By progressing with the survey, you are confirming consent to have your responses processed by ARMA.

The survey will be available until Friday 25^th September 2020

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The Royal Society’s Definition of Research Culture: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/research-culture/

Hilary Noone, Kieran Fenby-Hulse, Sam Lewis, Jennifer Stergiou, Sapna Marwaha, Steph Bales, Lorna Wilson, Hamish MacAndrew, Andrew Rawnsley, Nicole van der Westhuyzen.  August 2020