What is data management?
Data management is the practice that covers all aspects of handling data, including file organization and naming, data security and backups, data publishing, storage, and sharing,
and using data management tools for collaborating with other researchers.
New to data management?
Read one-page synopsis from DataONE
Key tools
- Creative Commons license selectorA tool enabling you to select a CC license for your data sets based on your needs and preferences.
- DataCiteA non-profit organizations that provides DOIs to datasets.
- DMP ToolA tool for creating data management plans that meet institutional and funder requirements.
- DryadAn open digital repository for diverse types of research data.
- Dublin Core User GuideA guide to using Dublin Core, one of the most common metadata schemes for describing a wide range of data.
- figshareA commercial digital repository for sharing and preserving figures, datasets, images, and videos.
- Open Data CommonsOffers three licenses that can be used in conjunction with data projects.
- re3dataOne of the most comprehensive registries of data repositories available on the web.
- SOAR@SUThe SU Libraries' open access repository for scholarly, professional, and creative works and data.
Why manage data?
Managing data helps you:
- save time and resources
- provide evidence for your research in conjunction with published results
- preserve your data for long-term access
- avoid the loss, degradation, or damage of your data
- promote new discoveries through data sharing
- meet data management requirements of research sponsors
- support open access by making your data freely available through open data repositories
(Image courtesy of Digital Curation Centre, www.dcc.ac.uk)
Key terms
Data
Any raw material - in both physical and digital form - collected and/or generated in the course of a research project.
Data lifecycle
All the stages the data progress through during the research process.
Data management
The practice of managing, sharing, and archiving data.
Data management plan
A plan outlining what data will be generated, collected, or used for a research project, and how that data will be managed during and after a research project.
Data repository
A database that organizes and holds digital data and makes the data available for use and reuse.
Data set
A collection of data that relates to a particular research study.
Metadata
The description of all aspects of data and software components used for the collection or creation of data.
Open data
Data that can be freely used, reused, and redistributed by anyone.
