Data Management

Better data management can lead to better research... but managing data effectively involves more than just creating some back-ups. 

Why worry about data management?

• Saves you time in the long run
• Helps you fulfill grant requirement
• Enhances appropriate data privacy while minimizing the risk of data loss
• Ensures long-term preservation and availability of your scholarly contributions
• Allows facile use and re-use of your data by your research team and other authorized parties

Where can I quickly learn the basics about data management?

• Data Management and Publishing (MIT) - A general resource for planning and creating a Data Management plan. Includes information regarding citations, security and backup, legal issues, and organization.
• Managing Your Data (University of Minnesota) - Provides information regarding the importance of managing your data, as well as a number presentations, slides, and workshops covering a variety of topics related to data management.
• Data Management Toolkit (Penn State) - Provides numerous comprehensive resources and tips for sharing, storing, and preserving your data. Includes a guide to metadata and resources to help you properly describe your work.

How can the UB Libraries help you manage your data?

The UB Institutional Repository, maintained by the University Libraries, is the primary vehicle we have available to assist you.  The institutional repository contains a variety of document types and handles all file formats.  It serves as a central, permanent data repository and is supported by University enterprise-level backup.  Please contact Mark Ludwig, Director, Research Systems Development, University Libraries.  

What is a data management plan and why is it important?

• Data Management Plans (MIT) - A concise definition of elements needed in a data management plan and an excellent list of resources/tools for developing the plan.
• Importance of Data Management (Boston Univ.) – in a nutshell, it matters.
• Guidelines for E ffective Data Management Plans (Univ. of Michigan) - Provides a list or required elements to create a complete Data Management plan, as well as a framework for developing each section. Also provides sample plans for view and resources for submitting your data. Information about depositing actual data is specific to Univ. of Michigan personnel.
• Data Management Plans (Univ. of Hawaii) – a well-organized and extensive site covering best practices, selection of data, data preservation and deposition, and examples of plans.

Which funders in the U.S. require Data Management Plans?

• NSF Data Management Plan Requirements (National Science Foundation) - Outlines in detail the requirements of Grant Proposals and Data Management plans according to NSF standards. Includes a comprehensive FAQ section as well.
• NIH Data Sharing Policy (National Institutes of Health) - Includes information on regulations involving data sharing, as well as a number of statements from the NIH on data management (last revisions made in 2007).
• Federal Funding Agencies: Data Management and Sharing Policies (Tufts Univ.) – A concise listing of major federal agencies noting if they have a data management plan and links to those that do.

What resources can help me with Big Data and data intensive scholarship issues?

• Nature Special Report on Big Data - This special report links to a series of new articles, reviews, columns, and essays published by Nature relating to Big Data. Featured pieces include information regarding trends, economics of data, and history.
• Chronicle of Higher Education Special Report on Big Data - Provides access to a number of articles dealing with Big Data and how it alters research, communication, and scholarship in general. Additional articles include information and developments in crowdsourcing and crowd science.
• Research Data: Management, Access, and Control: Symposium held at UB on November 14, 2011. - Contains links to videos and MP3 audio of presentations from UB's symposium on research data.
• National Institute of Health Data and Informatics Working Group Draft Report to The Advisory Committee to the Director June 15, 2012. - recommendations for the management, integration and analyses of  large biomedical and bioinformatics  biological sequence and numerical datasets.
• McKinsey Global Institute Report  Big data: The next frontier for innovation, competion, and productivity. (May 2011) – A free, 143-page report from McKinsey & Company with an executive summary discussing many aspects of this topic.
• Big Data (Wikipedia article) – This article is a simple, clear explanation of Big Data and has over 40 up-to-date references and further readings.

To discuss your specific interests and needs, contact A. Ben Wagner, Chair of the University Libraries Scholarly Communications Committee.

Last Updated: 11 October 2012

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