Working with data

Research data management is a process that continues throughout and beyond a research project. Once the planning for data has been completed and the project is getting underway, research data and other digital outputs will start coming in. It is critical at this stage to have strategies and procedures in place to store, document and organise this material, coordinate with collaborators and be aware of ethical and legal implications when dealing with sensitive information.

What are research data?

The UKRI defines data as evidence that underpins the answer to the research question.
Benefits of good data management

Following good research data management procedures has many benefits.
File formats

Using appropriate file formats and having robust conventions are crucial for guaranteeing that data can be accessed, used, shared and preserved.
Organising data

Information on file naming, versioning and organising files on disk.
Documentation and metadata

Documenting data and annotating it with metadata is crucial for making data accessible, understandable and usable.
Data security

Researchers have a duty to assess the sensitivity and value of the data they create and use in their research.
Collaborative working

When working collaboratively on a research project, there are four main considerations for research data management.
Electronic research notebooks

Electronic research notebooks are a tool that can be used to manage data from both sciences and humanities.