Bootcamp: Introduction – Research Data Service

Image: Twitter Data by Michael Gallagher

This online tutorial is appropriate for all members of the University who undertake research with some kind of digital aspect. It will be relevant whether or not your research is funded by an external sponsor. The aim is to enable you to produce high quality data with potential for long-term use. You can work through the tutorial step-by-step using the navigation arrow on the right or the links at the bottom of each screen.

The tutorial includes several questions and the answer to each question will be revealed when you make your selection. These are designed to reinforce your understanding. Your use of the tutorial and your responses to the questions are not recorded.

This tutorial offers an elementary introduction to the key facets of research data management. It should take you about 30 minutes to complete. You will find links to more in-depth advice and guidance at the end of each section.

The bootcamp is designed introduce you to the concept of research data, what constitutes research data, and how it differs from other types of information and help you to recognise the importance of good practice in managing research data in general and to apply it to your own research.

Introduction

All Bristol researchers have a responsibility to properly manage the data they create. This may seem a daunting task as there are a number of factors to consider: the safe storage of data, documenting data appropriately, deciding which parts of your data are important, providing access to data where appropriate and ensuring data survives in the long term.

However, researchers are not alone. The University shares responsibility for research data and has undertaken to support researchers in the data management process. Good research data management underpins the University of Bristol's vision to be recognised globally for the quality of its research. To underline this commitment the University has a policy on research data management.

Acknowledgements

This tutorial was first developed as part of the Jisc Managing Research Data Programme. We would like to acknowledge the following sources:

EDINA and Data Library, University of Edinburgh. Research Data MANTRA (online course), available at http://datalib.edina.ac.uk/mantra/
Incremental Project. Jisc-funded through the Managing Research Data Programme.
Oxford University Computing Services, DaMaRO Project.
Curating Artistic Research Output (CAiRO) JISC Project. Managing Creative Arts Research Data (MCARD) training module, (online course), available at http://cairo.scratch-space.org/unit1-0.html