 Research Data Management Guide

This article identifies the main differences between cloud storage, data collection software, and data repositories with regards to long-term preservation, discoverability, and data sharing. It further demonstrates uses for each during a research project and provides resources for learning more about approved platforms used by many UNC researchers.

This article explains data access restrictions such as ethical, legal, or resource limitations and provides examples to researchers for ways to implement access restrictions on data.

This article defines data curation, explains its necessity and importance, highlights the role of a data curator within a research project team, and points to resources on data curation best practices and standards.

This article includes information about DMPTool, why it is useful, how to get started with the tool, and points to guidance and walkthroughs for using the tool.

This article describes the Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) Review service offered by the UNC Research Data Management Core (RDMC) and how to submit a request for this service.

This article provides instructions and tips for creating a codebook (sometimes referred to as a ‘data dictionary’) that describes the contents of a research data file or files.

This article describes the types of information that should be included within a README file to assist secondary users in understanding the contents and structure of your research materials.

This article defines a trustworthy data repository, identifies strategies for finding a trustworthy repository, and links to additional resources.

This article offers information and guidance for researchers interested in using UNC Dataverse to share their research data as part of sponsor data sharing requirements and policies.

This article defines metadata and metadata standards for research data, and provides resources to help researchers identify an appropriate metadata standard for their project.

This article provides information on the National Institutes of Health’s data management and sharing policy and points to important guidance and resources to aid researchers in complying with policy requirements.

This article provides information on the National Science Foundation’s public access plan and points to important guidance and resources to aid researchers in complying with the plan’s requirements.

This article introduces the concept of the qualitative data package to describe the necessary components of a complete qualitative dataset that supports long-term preservation, access, and reuse.

This article helps you organize your research data and associated materials into a publishable package that supports transparency, reusability, and compliance with data sharing policies. These data packages can be deposited and published in a data repository for broader dissemination.

This article describes a data management and sharing plan and its components while also highlighting relevant policies, resources, and tools for planning for data management sharing activities.

This article offers recommendations for qualitative data file formats that align with data management and sharing standards and best practices.

This article offers recommendations for file formats that support long-term preservation and usability of digital textual works.

This article explains the importance of identifying and assigning roles and responsibilities to research project team members to support data management and sharing activities during and after the performance period of a funded project.

This article defines sensitive data, provides information on UNC policies for sensitive data, and offers options for data storage, software, and data sharing with regards to sensitive data.