Anything which helps you formulate or reach your research conclusion is research data. Essentially, it is the evidence or “stuff” collected during your research project that can support and validate the findings of your research.
It can be qualitative data, or quantitative data, or both. It can be generated through a variety of research instruments. Examples of research data include the following: statistics, tables, charts, images, audio/video recordings, survey results, transcripts, translations, reflective diaries etc. If it supports the research conclusion, it is research data.
Research data has a lifecycle. Research data management (RDM) covers the entire data lifecycle: collection, storage, curation, publication, archiving and disposal of that data.
To help plan your project and manage your research data effectively, it is advised that you create a Data Management Plan. Often, a plan or DMP which be required as part of a funding application bid. To assist you with writing a plan, please refer to this resource and use DMPOnline.
UKRI funded authors are required to include a Data Access statement in published articles. Examples of such statements can be found here.
It is essential that you adhere to funder regulations regarding the sharing of your research data. Some funders name repositories where data must be shared. Some funders also insist on a timeframe for this sharing. Please check the Open Data Funder Mandates Toolkit for further information.
If you do not have a funder requirement to share your data in a specific repository, please check re3data for where is the most appropriate repository for your data. You can also share via Pure. Sharing your data will require the right documentation, file formats and instructions so that others are able to use and reuse your data. Data will also be issued with a DOI in the repository where you share it.
For human-participant data, it is essential that you have informed consent to share data at the end e.g. quotes from interviews, survey results and tabular data, and transcriptions of interviews or focus groups.
Need Advice?
For further information about Research Data Management and Datasets at Queen's contact
Dr Michael O'Connor (Research Data Librarian)
Useful links:
Research Data Management Policy at Queen’s University Belfast
Training for staff and PGRs at Queen’s on aspect of Research Data Management (RDM)