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Graduate Research Portal

Library-based support for University of Lethbridge graduate students

Research Data Management

In 2021, the Canadian federal research funding agencies known as the Tri-Agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) released the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy, which aims to "support Canadian research excellence by promoting sound RDM and data stewardship practices." The policy is not an open data policy. However, for some funding opportunities offered by the Tri-Agencies, data management plans (DMPs) must be included in the grant application process as part of the materials that will be adjudicated by the submission reviewers.

The Library works collaboratively with the Office of Research & Innovation Services to support the University's students and researchers who need to create and carry out robust research DMPs.

For any advice or assistance meeting your research data management plan requirements, please feel free to contact your subject liaison librarian.

See also: Research Data Management

What is Research Data Management

Research data management "refers to the storage, access and preservation of data produced from a given investigation. Data management practices cover the entire lifecycle of the data, from planning the investigation to conducting it, and from backing up data as it is created and used to long term preservation of data deliverables after the research investigation has concluded" (Consortia Advancing Standards in Research Administration Information (CASRAI), n.d.)

Many issues and activities fall within the realm of data management that are worth taking note of.  Examples include:

  • "file naming (the proper way to name computer files);
  • data quality control and quality assurance;
  • data access;
  • data documentation (including levels of uncertainty);
  • metadata creation and controlled vocabularies;
  • data storage;
  • data archiving & preservation;
  • data sharing and re-use; data integrity;
  • data security; data privacy;
  • data rights; and
  • notebook protocols (lab or field)".

Further Resources

Digital Research Alliance of Canada

Research Data Management (Science.gc.ca)

Why is Research Data Management Important?

Among the many reasons why it is important to properly manage your research data are compliance with the Canadian Tri-Council funding ggencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR), improving research efficiency and furthering ULethbridge's aspiration to remain a highly regarded comprehensive research university.

The Canadian Tri-Council funding agencies propose that research data produced as a result of publicly-funded research be made openly available to anyone with an interest in viewing and using it.  Learning about and following appropriate research data management protocols and procedures will assist you and other researchers to transition to the anticipated new requirements.

A significant benefit of properly managed research data is improved efficiency of current as well as future research. Organizing your data organized in a standardized, efficient way makes it easier for fellow researchers to examine, verify, reuse or build upon it (and vice versa). Well organized, properly stored data also greatly reduces risks of accidental or malicious data loss.  A 2013 study by Vines et al., suggests 80% of scientific research data is lost within 20 years of creation, mostly as a result of broken emails and obsolete storage devices.

Work Cited

Writing the Research Data Management Plan

Tools are available to help you create a plan to manage your research data.  See the Libguide page on Research Data Management Plans for more information.