RDM Wise Practices Guidelines

Throughout the active phase of the project when research data are being collected and analyzed, researchers will typically need to access and work with their data frequently. Selecting a storage solution and practices that support access to this data are imperative to the integrity of the research project. This is different from data preservation, such as depositing data in a repository for long-term preservation, which only happens at the very end of a research project when data collection and manipulation are complete.

• Consider the file formats you will be using and their implications.
• Select an appropriate location to store the data.
• Decide who will need to access the stored data and how they will access it.
• Create a back-up and data retention plan.
• Establish naming conventions and version control.
• Determine data security measures.
• If applicable, determine how you will ensure anonymization and de-identification. 
• Select any software and/or platforms that you will use for data analysis (e.g., SPSS, NVivo, ArcGIS).

For support analyzing your data, go to the Data Connection Guide.