1. DIGITAL RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT
Simo Keuramo, IT Services, University of Turku
PLANNING (DMP)
DIGITAL DATA MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Your Data Management Plan is the key document in planned research data. For example, using the DMPTuuli.fi tool will guide you in addressing relevant questions.
By planning, you’ll minimize risk for data loss, ensure the reusability of your data and the efficient use of resources by avoiding ovelapping work.
Successful Research Data Management (RDM) is a sum of several activities, ie.:
Many times you’ll need several tools and in some cases it’s best to develop custom applications specific for your project. Some tools, however, have features that span the full research project, for example:
Planning the data management
Managing metadata
Managing consents and agreements
Choosing storage services
Choosing data formats
REDCap (redcap.utu.fi/pilot)
Designing the database
Design the full data gathering process and collect data with electronic forms
Archiving and publishing the data/metadata, etc…
TITLE #2
STORAGE
FILE FORMATS
METADATA
Rule #1: Store your data electronically in a networked and backed up service
University of Turku offers several options:
Network Drives (Oma verkkokansio, Verkkolevyt), starting at 25GB storage
Seafile Cloud Storage, comes with a 100GB starting quota
TALTIO network drives for TB’s of data
Server Hotel for online databases
Rule #2: The best suitable file format may vary during research, but for archiving its best to use a common one
Common and openly described file types include (but are not limited to): .csv / .txt / .xlsx / .docx / .jpeg .pdf (PDF/A) / .html / .avi
Rule #3: Always store up-to-date metadata descriptions along your data
General description of the dataset (metadata of the dataset): author, license, methods, location, etc.
Detailed description of the data description of variables, code book, etc.
ARCHIVING
SHARING & OPENING DATA
By archiving your data (preferrably in an open repository), you’ll contribute to the larger scientific and public community.
Archives also create an online identifier (ie. UID) for you data, for other users of the data to reference along your name.
For examples of online research data archives, see:
Finnish Social Science Data Archive (fsd.uta.fi)
Zenodo (zenodo.org)
Once archived in an online archive, it’s fairly easy to share your data with colleagues or the larger public.
It’s also possible, to only publish the general descriptive metadata of the dataset check out: etsin.avointiede.fi
When publishing, double check that the anonymization is in line with GDPR and that participant consents allow this!
MORE INFO
CONTACT
Check out the Research Data Guide
libguides.utu.fi/researchdata
For details about (IT) services check Intranet
 intranet.utu.fi/index
For assistance with choosing and using IT services: 
For assistance with data management and open data: 