TIND RDM Research Data Repository Usability Study - February 2026

Abstract

Following its 2025 migration from Duke's legacy platform to TIND RDM, the Duke University Libraries Research Data Repository (RDR) underwent a task-based usability evaluation conducted by the Assessment and User Experience Strategy (AUXS) department. Ten participants, five expert users (faculty and staff) and five novice users (graduate students), completed representative, goal-oriented tasks reflecting common repository workflows. Data collection included quantitative performance metrics alongside qualitative observations and thematic analysis. Findings indicate that the TIND RDR effectively supports foundational workflows such as dataset discovery and routine data management, while more complex, multi-step workflows introduced usability challenges for both groups. Key issues included terminology mismatches, unclear system feedback, and workflow deviations from the legacy platform. Recommendations were developed collaboratively with RDR stakeholders and are organized by implementation priority.