Data Management

2 Data Management Practices RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

3 Data Management Practices Data Ownership Who owns it depends on …. Funding source Government, private company or philanthropic organization Grant (Bayh-Dole) versus contract Research institution? Grants awarded to institution, not individual Institution responsible for budget, regulatory compliance, contractual obligations, data management To ensure compliance, institution exerts ownership RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

4 Data Management Practices Data Ownership Maybe the data source Countries with tropical rain forests Individuals with rare diseases Entities with unique databases RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

5 Data Management Practices Data Ownership Work out in advance - Who owns the data I am collecting? What rights do I have to publish the data? Does collecting these data impose any obligations on me? Preferably in writing. May need institutional approval! RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

6 Data Management Practices Data Collection Four generic but important considerations - 1.Use appropriate and reliable methods 2.Pay attention to detail 3.Obtain authorizations Human / animal subjects, biohazards, copyrighted material, etc 4.Keep permanent record regardless of format What was done / observed / achieved RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

7 Data Management Practices Data Collection Two basic rules to record keeping - 1.Enter data / evidence into numbered, bound notebook Date, order of data collection, results achieved No binders or files, changes without date / reason 2.Electronic evidence should be validated to assure it was recorded on a particular date and not changed later ??? RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

8 Data Management Practices Data Protection Data, as currency of research, represents investment It may be needed later: To confirm findings or to establish priority Or, for re-analysis by others It should be stored in a safe place and backed up if on computers Confidentiality agreements must be honored! RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

9 Data Management Practices Data Protection Data, as currency of research, represents investment Data should be preserved – but for how long? At least 3-7 years? Research data should be shared – but when and with whom?? Preliminary data – not unless … Confirmed / validated data – not before publication Keeping data confidential prior to publication – OK Once published, all relevant information should be available RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH

10 Data Management Practices Data Protection Future considerations. Data complexity – e.g. the human genome project How to store efficiently and inexpensively? Control – e.g. large projects Can researchers participating in a large, multi-site study publish their own data, or are they constrained? National security Freedom versus fears of terrorists, enemy nations, etc RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH