What is research data?
When you write your bachelor's or master's thesis, you use data, or materials, as the basis for your analysis. Any data or materials that you create, collect, produce, generate, or reuse in your thesis can be research data.
Please note that the material you produce yourself, such as notes and measurement results, can also be seen as research data, and it is important that you have a plan so that nothing is destroyed or lost.
This guide will help you plan your data management from the beginning to the end of your study, so that you have a plan for all aspects of your data as you work and can focus on writing.
Åbo Akademi University is committed to supporting good data management for all ÅA-affiliated people, including students, by offering and developing infrastructure for storage, archiving, advice, and support.
Picture JISC: https://rdmtoolkit.jisc.ac.uk/research-data-lifecycle/ CC-BY-ND
In research, there is a life cycle approach to research data, with the following stages:
- Plan your study
- Collect data/material
- Analyze data
- Organize and document data
- Store data during the project
- Share and publish data after the project
The life cycle then continues as researchers (re)use and cite research data. Even if not all points concern you as a bachelor's or master's student, it is good to keep the data life cycle in mind when you start your thesis.