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Research Data Management

A collection of information to assist with RDM

Research Data Management (RDM)

Research data management (RDM) is “The storage of, access to and preservation of data produced from one or more investigations, or from a program of research. Research data management practices cover the entire lifecycle of the data, from planning the investigation to conducting it, and from backing up data as it is created and used to preserving data for the long term after the research has concluded. It also includes data-sharing, where applicable” (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, 2021). 

The data produced by research is valuable and steps should be taken for its protection, preservation, and (when appropriate) sharing. RDM has many benefits for researchers, funders, and the public by ensuring research is transparent, ethical, and has greater impact. 

 

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. (2021, May 4). Definitions of terms. Government of Canada. https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/definitions-eng.aspx#a29

The RDM Lifecycle

Research Data Management occours at every phase of research, including the planning and proposal steps. Below is an illustration of the Research Data Lifecycle, based on the steps outlined in the Portage Research Data Management Primer

                   The Research Data Management Lifecycle

This work was licenced under a  Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 International license by Portage based on a model developed by the Leadership Council for Digital Research Infrastructure. Graphics and layout have been altered. 

Essential RDM Resources

The Fundamentals of OCAP®

A course from the First Nations Information Governance Centre on  the OCAP® principles of Indigenous data.

How to FAIR

Lear more about the principles of FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data. 

Good Enough RDM: A Very Brief Guide

A concise guide to RDM by Eugene Barsky, University of British Columbia

Research Data Management

The Digital Alliance of Canada's definition of RDM, list of RDM services, and a brief history of RDM in Canada.

Relevant External Policies

Your project's success may depend on the strength of your RDM practices. Many funding organizations and publishers have policies around RDM, particularly creating data management plans and depositing data. Be sure to carefully check these requirements in the planning phase of your research. Please see below for some examples:

Research Funding

Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy 

A section of this policy is specific to researchers.

Sherpa Juliet: Research Funders' Open Access Policies

This searchable database provides information about the RDM and Open Access polices of a wide range of international research funding agencies.

Research Publications

Nature: Reporting standards and availability of data, materials, code and protocols

SpringerNature: Research Data Policies

Sage Publishing: Research Data Sharing Policies

Elsevier: Open Data

Wiley: Data Sharing Policy