"When should I write a DMP and how often should I update it?"
Many funders require a brief description of how you plan to manage your research data already at the application stage. A complete DMP is usually required when funding has been granted. Check the funder’s conditions and instructions. According to ÅAU’s Policy for Open Science and Research, all projects must have a DMP. You can update the DMP at the same time as updating the research plan or according to other agreements within the research group (e.g., once a year).
"What's the difference between a DMP and a research plan? It’s hard to know what belongs to which"
A DMP is a description of technical and practical details of how you collect, create, or reuse research data or materials, and how they are to be preserved/archived or destroyed afterwards. Theoretical perspectives, literature review and discipline-specific concepts belong to the research plan. The tool DMPTuuli provides instructions for what a DMP should contain.
"Why should I write a DMP? In my research I don’t handle data".
In this context, ‘data’ means that which is subject to scientific analysis, i.e., the word data has a broader meaning than in discipline-specific contexts. Try to define what you analyse and manage in your research.
"Do we really have to make an agreement on data usage rights with our partner? We’ve never had to do that before..."
It is recommended that you secure your right to use the data in the research, even if you collected it on behalf of your partner. Similarly, if many people participated in the research, they can also get ownership rights and thus the opportunity to limit your future use of the data.
"ÅAU requires me as a researcher to sign an agreement on the transfer of rights. Does ÅAU have the right to demand it? Do I have to agree to it? I collected the data myself, so I own it!"
It depends. If you have done commissioned research on work contracts within the framework of funding hosted by ÅAU, ÅAU may own the research data. For scholarship holders who have created their own projects, the situation is different.
"What are the age limits for when you have to request a guardian’s permission to collect data (interviews, filming, etc.)?"
If research data is collected within normal school activities and meets certain other criteria and you have research permission from, for example, the headmaster and no identifiable data is stored, you can do without the guardian’s permission for children younger than 15, provided that an ethics review has been carried out. Children over the age of 15 are generally considered to have such a right of self-determination that they can give their own consent. Filming and interviews can be difficult to completely anonymize, and special care is recommended for the collection of such material.
"We collaborate with X, who manages the contacts with the schools, so we don't need a formal research permit, do we?"
You need your own research permit or a copy of what was agreed to be sure that all necessary permissions have been granted. If the municipality/unit does not have its own form, you can use the ÅAU form for research permits [PDF].
"I have sensitive data on CDs, a hard drive and USB stick. Where can I store them?”
You are dealing with privacy-sensitive material at risk and need to immediately transfer your data to storage in a more responsible way. More information on the LibGuide's storage page.
"Our partner wants to store the data at their university – is that okay?"
It depends. Who owns the data, and who has the right to use them? Does the data contain personal data or other sensitive information, and can the partner guarantee that this information is handled in a responsible manner throughout the entire data life cycle? You can ask your partner to rather deposit the material in a suitable repository.
"Can I take my research data with me on a USB stick when I travel outside the EU?"
Be aware that the USB stick can fall into the wrong hands and consider leaving the research data at home. If you handle sensitive data, you need to protect the data, for example by encryption, particularly in countries with less strict or different legislation than the EU.
“Who takes care of sorting out my data? And metadata - what does that mean? Isn't that what the library should take care of?"
You know your research data and can organise and document it – no one else can. Metadata or description of data is also something you do best with other potential users in mind. Make rich descriptions to help others understand what your data is about.
"Should I really save/publish/open all the data?"
No, it is rarely even possible. Various research ethical, legal and practical aspects must be weighed and must be decided on a case-by-case basis. Here is a guide with advice on how researchers can decide what data should be kept.
"We usually delete the data when the research is over, otherwise people don't want to participate. Can't we do that anymore?”
If you delete all research data, your results may not be verified later. It is therefore recommended to at least store data for about 3–5 years for verification. And if it is valuable data, maybe it can be reused? Consider instead obtaining consent to, for example, depositing the data in an open archive/repository in anonymized form. Remember that publishing metadata about your research data is also desirable. Then documentation of the data remains even if it has been deleted.
"What if I've published my data in a repository and I find an error? What do I do?”
Many repositories, such as Zenodo, allows you to upload a new version under the same doi. Those who found the old version will then also find information that there is a newer version, while the address is the same.
"Should I prefer to use these global open data services, like Zenodo?"
You should preferably use the service that is best for your research so that the right user finds it, i.e., a discipline-specific repository. The repository should preferably meet certain basic technical requirements to be able to guarantee that the data is findable (through identifiers like doi/urn/handle and metadata), and that the data is kept open and does not suddenly disappear. You can search for repositories that meet the FAIR requirements here.
"If I have many kinds of outputs related to the same research – blog posts, graphics, scripts and models, where should I share them?"
The recommendation is to share them where that type of data is shared. Then you can insert the doi (or url) of the other data in any description field (the metadata) so that they are linked. For example, Zenodo accepts all sorts of data. You can, e.g., create a community for your research project and upload all data there (note: remember to share only what licenses and other conditions allow).
"Which mistakes should I watch out for in data management?"
Avoid storing data on USB sticks or other modules that you can lose or that may break. Choose ÅAU's network drive instead - it is backed up every night. Avoid storing data in commercial services where you have to give away rights. Avoid collecting data without an ownership and user agreements in the research group. Also avoid sharing data without an open license.