Survey: Using Digital Tools and Resources for Ancient World Research

My CHASE-funded PhD in Classical Studies at the Open University, in which this survey played a crucial role, investigated Linked Ancient World Data usability. The survey took place during April-May 2018 and was aimed at anyone involved in Ancient World research, with any level of digital expertise. Questions related to participants' experiences of using and producing digital tools and resources in general (including their effectiveness for different research activities), with additional questions for those participants who had knowingly used or produced Linked Data.

All survey questions were optional. A total of 259 responses were received, 212 of which contained some data. At the end of the survey, participants were asked to provide their name and email address if they were happy to be contacted to take part in a follow-up interview; responses to these questions have been removed to preserve anonymity.

For the purposes of this survey: digital resources are defined as any material that can be consumed in an electronic format, including digitised or born-digital texts, images or artefacts, as well as websites, databases, catalogues, and interactive visualisations; digital tools are defined as software that enables the user to carry out a specific function relating to a digital resource (such tools may be online or installed on the user's computer); Ancient World research refers to the study of any civilisations existing prior to the end of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.