Research Data Management

Research data is determined as all (digital) information, materials and data that are the subject of a research process, that are used and generated during a research process for scientific purposes and that are its result. The point of reference is always a research question. Research data can be generated using various methods.

Research data are available in a variety of formats and types, at different stages during the research process and in different forms. Considering the progression of digitisation and aiming to archive and publish research results, the focus is on digital data and information.

Research data management is defined as the systematic professional handling of research data before, during and after the research process according to good scientific practice with the goal to preserve and to publish research data and related materials for the long-term. Research data management enhances the reproducibility, the comprehensibility and reusability of research results.

Key aspects:

◊ Support and quality assurance
The facilitation and systematisation of research processes from the planning phase to the end of the research project concerning the use, generation and processing of research data.

◊ Transparency and replication
The reproducibility of the findings and results gained from the research data by appropriate documentation, archiving and provision of the data and information required for this purpose.

◊ Reusability
Enabling re-use of existing materials and data following clear regulations, standards and processes.

Research data management is concerned with the implementation of suitable standards and procedures in such a way that research data, as an important research result itself, can also be adequately published or at least archived and can be set in relation to literary publications.

Research data management covers all methods and procedures that favour preservation, reproduction and re-use, starting from the collection and generation of the research data, through the processing and enrichment of the data to the final step of archiving and publishing according to the guidelines of safeguarding good scientific practice (see DFG (2013): Memorandum. Safeguarding good scientific practice for more details).

Depending on complexity and design of the research project, many decisions and preparations regarding research data need to be made. That is why it is recommended to make appropriate arrangements for research data management in time, in best case already in the planning phase of the research project. A data management plan is a valid instrument to assist researchers to get an overview of all relevant aspects, a document that helps to identify all requirements of research data management, possible opportunities and challenges in dealing with the generated and analysed data.

Publishing research data gains in importance and brings benefits.

Validation and reproducibility: In the sense of good scientific practice, published research data enable the verification and validation of research results.

Innovation and inspiration: Existing research data can also be re-used in other research contexts, inspire new research questions and stimulate or even initiate research processes.

Availabilty and citability of the data: When using professional procedures and selecting appropriate service providers, published research data are made permanently available in the long term. A persistent identifier (e.g. a DOI) is assigned which makes the data permanently citable and verifiable. This increases the visibility of research activities with positive effects on the scientific reputation.

Efficiency: The re-use of research data saves resources, for example because of reducing extra effort regarding the generation and collection of the data.

Fulfilment of third-party requirements: Research funding agencies and universities as well increasingly demand and promote the publication of research data from publicly funded research projects.

see also:
⇒ DFG: Code of Conduct: Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice (2019).
⇒ European Commission: Guidelines on Open Access to Scientific Publications and Research Data in  Horizon 2020 (2016).

The Leuphana Media and Information Centre (MIZ) currently develops and establishs standardised procedures for a research data management at Leuphana that fits the common needs of the scientific landscape. On the one hand, the focus lies on the development and permanent provision of services on the fields of researchers' consulting and support and information services. On the other hand, MIZ implements and maintains technical services for the storage, preservation and publication of research data generated and used at Leuphana University Lueneburg. The MIZ acts in cooperation with the Leuphana Research Service, especially on the field of project fundraising and applications.

Focussing on university's researchers' needs and demands, the MIZ aims to provide them with the best possible support from the planning phase (e.g. composing data management plans, project application support), through the generation, storage and organisation of research data during the research phase, to the archiving and publication of research data. This also includes legal or IT aspects.

Archiving and publication service PubData:

Leuphana maintains an archiving and publication service for research data by means of the institutional research data repository PubData. In PubData, research data can be submitted both for preservation and archiving in the sense of good scientific practice for usually ten years and for publication including DOI assignment and availability via the PubData catalogue. The published data is available for download for use by third parties under regulated terms of use.

You can find further information about our topics at our specific websites:

• Planning and applying for research projects
• Consulting and training courses
• File Management
• Aufbereitung und Dokumentation
• Rechtliches

Contact:

Please contact us in case of need for more information, consulting or support by phone or e-mail -> forschungsdaten@leuphana.de.

Consultation Hours:

Wedn., 10-11 a.m. for doctoral students only

Wedn., 11-12 a.m.

or by specific appointment.

Please register briefly for the respective consultation hour in order to coordinate appointments -> registration.