Introduction to Research Data Management Joy Davidson and Sarah Jones Digital Curation Centre

The Digital Curation Centre “Helping to build capacity, capability and skills in data management and curation across the UK’s higher education research community”

What do we mean by research data? Research data are research related records, documents or other items which: contain recorded information; are produced or received in the initiation, conduct or completion of an activity; are retained as evidence of that activity, or because they have other informational value. Research data relates to: the research process e.g. research protocols; applications for regulatory approvals and approvals granted. research outcomes or products e.g. technical reports; monographs. the management of the research process/project(s) e.g. applications for funding; contracts; purchase invoices; staff timesheets. both raw and analysed form e.g. notes; completed questionnaires; audio/video recordings; photographs; instrument readings; databases; samples. Research data can be data which is: Collected Observed Created Used for purposes of analysis to produce original research results.

What does research data management involve? Data Management Planning Creating data Documenting data Accessing / using data Storage and backup Sharing data Preserving data CreateDocumentUseStoreSharePreserve

‘Conducting research on existing data sets less expensive than setting up new studies and novel linkage can widen focus’ Dr Jim Lewsey, Statistical Analysis of Linked Health Data (SALHDa), Launch of HEHTA Why does RDM matter?

6 …open data

Ultimately funders expect: timely release of data -once patents are filed or on (acceptance for) publication open data sharing -minimal or no restrictions if possible preservation of data -typically years if of long-term value See the RCUK Common Principles on Data Policy:

“Research organisations will ensure that effective data curation is provided throughout the full data lifecycle, with ‘data curation’ and ‘data lifecycle’ being as defined by the Digital Curation Centre. The full range of responsibilities associated with data curation over the data lifecycle will be clearly allocated...” responsibility

Benefits of data sharing... more citations... scientific breakthroughs... validation of results

Funders have DMP requirements

They typically want a short (c.1-2pp) statement covering: What data will be created (format, types, volume) Standards and methodologies to be used (incl. metadata) How ethics and Intellectual Property will be addressed Plans for data sharing and access Strategy for long-term preservation

The DCC offers guidance, examples and tools to help with compliance

Selecting what to keep

Additional guidance on selecting data

Archiving – institutional data repositories Not intended to replace national, subject or other established data collections Acknowledge hybrid environment Essex-RDR and DataPool at Southampton

Research data storage

Archiving – external data centres Research funders’ data centres… Structured databases Disciplinary& community initiatives Registries of international data centres

Finding Data: University of Glasgow research data catalogue

Finding Data: Jisc Research Data Registry and Discovery Service

Guidance and training

Thanks – any questions? DCC guidance, tools and case studies: Follow us on and #ukdcc