Research data management is a fundamental part of research practice. Data management should happen throughout the research data lifecycle and you should create a data management plan early on in any research project.
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Image adapted from: ARDC. (2023). Research data management framework for institutions (Version 2). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8433246
Why manage research data?
Managing your research data helps keep your work organised and will make your research easier. For example, using consistent file names and logical directory structures help you quickly find relevant information and allows you to understand the data into the future.
Good data management is important for maintaining credibility and avoiding mistakes. It also enhances your reputation and makes your research more reproducible. In fact many funders and publishers now require data to be shared along with other research findings.
Data management plans
Creating a Data Management Plan (DMP) is an important part of research and should be developed as early as possible in the research process.
A DMP should:
- Provide a description of the data (type, format, volume)
- Explain how the data will be collected & documented
- Outline the plans for data sharing
- Justify any restrictions on sharing (ethics, IP)
- Document data ownership
- State the long-term preservation plan
The university provides a tool to help you create a DMP. Melbourne Data Planner will guide you through the process of creating a DMP and you can share it with your supervisor or other collaborators. See the Melbourne Data Planner guides if you need help.
Please note the University's data planning platform, DMPMelbourne will be available for access until June 30, 2026.
Learn about research data management
You can learn more about research data management through Managing Data @Melbourne, available to students and staff on the LMS. Managing Data @Melbourne will guide you through the process of creating a DMP and will teach you some of the fundamentals of research data management.
If you are just after a quick overview of how to approach file naming, have a look at the File Management 101 resource.