Research Data Management (RDM)

What is research data management?

Proper handling of research data is an essential part of the research process. This is important, not only from the viewpoint of research organisation and collaboration, but also from the viewpoint of scientific integrity (transparency of methodology, reproducibility, verifiability and reuse). 

The objective of research data management is to make research data findable, accessible and understandable now and in the future. Therefore research data management concerns the planning, collecting, organising, documenting, storing, safeguarding, processing, analysing, archiving, disseminating and reuse of research data.

Policy

Since September 2016 Ghent University adopted a policy for research data management. This general framework serves as a guideline for managing research data and determines the principles, objectives and responsibilities. Given the large differences between and within the different scientific domains, all faculties are given the mandate to take local initiatives. Therefore, we developed guidelines within the FPPW to encourage and assist researchers with carefully managing research data in accordance with the general policy framework.

The Data Management Plan

Carefully managing research data is an essential part of good research practice and starts with adequate planning, in particular by drawing up a data management plan (DMP). A DMP is a document specifying how data will be handled both during and after a particular research project. Setting up a DMP urges them to reflect on data collection, data storage, data security and data retrieval.

Tip: Upon request, the UGent data steward team provides feedback about your DMP. Send your DMP to rdm.support@ugent.be.

Guidance

Questions?

For all your questions with regard to good research practices please contact Jan Lammertyn. For questions specific about research data management, you can also contact the UGent data steward team.

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