A survey-based assessment of the eResearch Knowledge Centre’s support practices in the Human Sciences Research Council in Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

This study aims to assess the current eResearch Knowledge Centre (eRKC) research support services, evaluate their adequacy in supporting Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) researchers and identify any gaps or areas requiring improvement. Additionally, this study sought to determine which additional services, if any, should be implemented to enhance the effectiveness of eRKC in supporting HSRC researchers. This study evaluated the importance, satisfaction and usage of eRKC services during the “Prepare” phase of the research lifecycle. Environmental scanning (51%, very important) and funding opportunities (67.9%) were critical, with high satisfaction with environmental scanning (84.9%) and spatial consultations (75.1%). However, 22.6% were dissatisfied with the funding support. In terms of usage, 62.2% used environmental scanning, 36.8% used spatial consultations and 57.7% used funding services. Successful partnerships were noted by 50% of the participants, and 71.7% attended training workshops. The key sessions included literature reviews (62.9%), Mendeley (54.8%) and research impact metrics (47.2%), underscoring the vital role of these services in supporting researchers.