Managing Your Data

Data is the product of research, but it is also increasingly the starting point for new research. The University Libraries, Office of Research, and Information Services are developing resources to help researchers sustainably manage their data, through tools and services to support the creation, storage, annotation, discovery, and access to data.

On this page:

Why is data management important?
Steps you can take
Sources
Contributors

Why is data management important?

There are many short-term and long-term benefits of good data management. By managing your research data you can

• increase the impact of research
• meet funding requirements
• preserve and protect the research investment and minimise the risk of data loss
• ensure research data and records are accurate, complete, authentic and reliable.
• increase your research efficiency
• save time and resources in the long run
• enhance data security
• prevent duplication of effort by enabling others to use your data

Steps you can take

• Develop a data management plan pre-grant, that you can follow and update during the course of the project.
• Learn about data management and arrange training for yourself, your lab group, institute, or department
• Learn about the various funding agency requirements and recommendations (ie. NSF Data Plan)
• View a list of subject-specific data repositories to determine the best place to share your data
• Get access to research computing resources on campus and include them in your data management plan

Sources

The following sites and materials were consulted in the development of these web pages:

Data management guidance at other academic institutions:

• Cornell University
• Duke University Libraries
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Minnesota Libraries
• University of Michigan Libraries
• University of Virginia Library
• University of Wisconsin
• Stanford University

Other sources of information -- this is not a comprehensive list (contact Brian Westra for more information):

• Australia National Data Services (ANDS)
• Guide for Research Libraries: The NSF Data Sharing Policy - ARL (Association of Research Libraries)
• Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) Data Management Toolkit
• Data Documentation Initiative
• Keeping Research Data Safe
• Interagency Working Group on Digital Data
  
• Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
• NIH: Key Elements to Consider in Preparing a Data Sharing Plan
• Research Information Network (RIN)
  

Contributors

A number of faculty and staff contributed to the development of these pages, representing the variety of groups that support grants and research data:

Karen Estlund, Kira Homo, Brian Westra - University Libraries
Jim Hutchison - Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies
Helen Chu, Sean Sharp - Information Services
Cathleen Leue - College of Arts and Sciences Information Technology
Chuck Williams - Technology Transfer
Meg Rowles - Office for Responsible Conduct of Research