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RDM Wise Practices Guidelines

Introduction

Research data management (RDM) is a term that describes the organization, storage, preservation, and sharing of data collected and used in a research project. Research data is the data created or generated as part of a research project and exists in many formats including numeric data, text, transcripts, images, video and audio recordings.

The RDM Wise Practice Guidelines outline Sheridan’s commitment to providing a comprehensive set of tools that will empower researchers to navigate the data elements of their research projects with confidence and in compliance with the requirements of the Tri-Agency RDM Policy.

RDM describes the everyday activities of researchers.

  • Using consistent file naming conventions.
  • Defining access rights to the data while it is collected and analyzed.
  • Determining long-term data preservation strategies.
  • Disseminating and sharing the results at the project’s completion.
  • And more.

RDM is important for many reasons.

  • Data, like journal articles and books, is a scholarly product.
  • Data (especially digital data) is fragile and easily lost.
  • There are growing research data management requirements by funders and publishers.
  • Research data management can prevent ethical breaches and saves time and resources in the long run.
  • Good data management helps to prevent errors and increases the quality of your analyses.
  • Well-managed and accessible data allows others to validate and replicate findings.
  • Research data management facilitates sharing of research data and, when shared, data can lead to valuable discoveries by others outside of the original research team.

RDM applies to every type of research project conducted at Sheridan.

  • externally-funded projects
  • curriculum-based or other unfunded Sheridan projects

For staff and faculty pursuing their own individual research for personal gain (e.g., graduate studies), refer to the institution where you are pursuing your studies for RDM guidelines, resources, and storage options.

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