Establishing semantic research graphs in humanities’ research practice

Abstract

This paper presents approaches and challenges to developing research software for qualitative humanities and social sciences research. While these methods so far lack a digital enhancement, we realized a range of research environments based on semantic graph technologies in research practice. In order to understand the researchers’ needs and take the existing research practice seriously, a participatory and agile design approach was used by which several researchers were involved in realizing concrete research projects. A user-centered agile approach with fast prototyping was included. To materialize the needed interaction at an early stage of the research life cycle, this was accompanied by trainings, workshops, and joint paper publications in the different research communities.