Research Data Management

Research data are defined as factual records (numerical scores, textual records, images, and sounds) used as primary sources for scientific research, and that are commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings.

(Source: OECD Principles and Guidelines for Access to Research Data from Public Funding)

• Meet funding body grant requirements (if applicable)
• Ensure research integrity and reproducibility
• Increase your research efficiency
• Ensure research data and records are accurate, complete, authentic and reliable
• Save time and resources in the long run
• Enhance data security and minimising the risk of data loss
• Prevent duplication of effort by enabling others to use your data
• Comply with practices conducted in industry and commerce
• Facilitate the analysis of change, by providing data with which data at other points in time can be compared

(Source: MANTRA)

Research data management extends over the whole data management lifecycle from data collection or creation through to storage/archiving and may continue long after the research project is completed as data is shared, reused and cited.

(Source: University of California, Santa Cruz, Data Management LibGuide)

We would like to draw your attention to the following clauses in the NIE Research Data Management Policy:

• Researchers are to archive the final research data used to establish and validate the research associated with the publication in the NIE Data Repository or a recognized open access data repository no later than the publication of the article.
• Data will be retained for a period of 10 years after publication or with effect from the completion date of the study, whichever is later.
• For completed non-funded projects, which include students’ projects, the final research data (including identifiers and consent forms) is only to be archived by the AG upon project completion regardless of whether or not a publication is intended. Publishing in this case refers to any public dissemination of the results and although it may be interpreted in many ways, any medium in which the results may potentially result in any query or questioning on its integrity, should be viewed as deserving of archival. Hence, for completed non-funded projects, research data is to be archived.
• For student theses, the relevant, final, anonymised research data is to be archived by the data custodian in the NIE Data Repository. Original hardcopies are preferred but softcopies are also accepted.

The NIE Research Data Management Policy is accessible via the NIE Staff Portal (NIE Portal > Research > NIE Research Data Management, Integrity and Ethics).​