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Neo-Institutional Theory in Researching Research Data Management (RDM) Practices in Developing Contexts
Abstract
Research Data Management (RDM) has become essential for open science and research integrity; however, it is often fragmented and under-resourced in many developing regions. This conceptual paper applies Neo-Institutional Theory (NIT) to investigate the coercive, mimetic, and normative forces shaping higher education institutions (HEIs) that engage with RDM practices. Using Botswana as a case study, the paper develops a model that places RDM within a broader ecosystem of regulatory expectations, professional norms, and legitimacy-seeking behaviours. The framework illustrates how global data governance mandates are interpreted locally, symbolically adopted, or selectively adapted. This paper contributes to the theoretical discourse in RDM studies and provides a foundation for future empirical research and policy reform in low- and middle-income higher education systems.
PCF11 Sub-Theme: Sustaining Communities of Learning and Practice in Innovative Open Education
Paper ID: 8298
Subject
Country
Botswana
Region
Africa
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Adobe PDF, 616.17 KB
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Date
2025-09
Author
ORCID
Corporate Author
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Publisher
Commonwealth of Learning (COL)