Experimentation
Research data management
During the course of any research project a large amount of data is generated - especially that generated by high-performance computing. Data takes many different forms. It may be documents, spreadsheets, images, graphs, modelling data - the list could go on. All UK Research Councils and many other research funders expect researchers to manage their data properly. This includes, organising, describing, storing, and in some cases sharing data.
For a comprehensive set of advice, please see the UK Data Archive's publication, Managing and sharing data - Best practice for researchers.
Data management - points to consider
Q: What should I think about when creating data?
- Funder requirements
Check what your research funder's data management and sharing requirements are and plan to meet these from the outset.
- Data protection issues
Remember that all data is subject to data protection laws. The University provides guidance on this.
- Who will need access?
Consider from the outset who will need to access the data both during and after the project. See our Accessing your Data information.
- Intellectual property issues
If you are using other data sources, check the conditions under which you can use and re-use the data. If you are creating your own data, consider the intellectual property rights of all the stakeholders, such as research partners, research funders, and of course Loughborough University. See the University Copyright pages for more information.
Q: How should I manage my research data?
- Describe it well
Without metadata (data about data), your dataset is meaningless. Remember to provide both a high-level description of the dataset itself, and also provide meaningful descriptions of the the individual data themselves.
- File formats
The best way to ensure long-term access to your data is to use non-proprietary formats such as Open Document Format (ODF), ASCII, tab-delimited format, comma-separated values, and XML.
- Organising your files
Remember to organise your file structure in such a way that others can easily locate the files they need. Give files and folders meaningful names (not "Document 1"). Use version control to show the development of files over time.
Q: How can I look after my data?
- Making back-ups
Regular back-ups are essential to safeguard against accidental loss or theft of data. Contact your local IT Support to see if they have a recommended back-up service.
- Data storage
Check the terms of your research grant and also Data Protection laws for guidance on the length of time you should store your research data. This is best held locally if possible, or as otherwise agreed by the terms of your grant. See our guidance on Managing your research data.
- Data security
When thinking about data security, consider both physical security, security of computer systems, individual files, and network security. See IT Services advice on IT Security for further support.
Q: How can I provide long-term access to my data?
- Where to store your data
At the moment, there is no central repository for research data at Loughborough University. However, there are a wide range of subject-based Data Repositores you could use.
- Choosing what to keep
It may be that you don't need to keep all of your data in perpetuity. Think carefully about what you need to provide long-term access to, and for how long. Is the data unique? Can the data be re-used? Are there legal requirements govenring its retention or destruction?
- Describe it well
For your data to be meaningful long-term, it needs to be well-described. See the section on Managing your Research Data for more information.
Social media for research collaboration
Tools that allow for collaborative editing are indispensable, whether for putting together a funding proposal or preparing a conference presentation.
Q: Which collaboration tools should I consider?
‘Office suites’ such as Google Docs or Zoho are obvious starting points. If you have a Google Mail account it is probably easier to work with other Google products.
Wiki sites such as PBWorks allow you to devote a page per topic which can be easier to work with than a single long document.
Mind mapping tools such as Mind42 are useful for ‘big picture’ brainstorming.