Getting Started with Research Data Management

A definition for Research Data Management:

Research Data Management (RDM) is one of the four key elements of Canada’s digital research infrastructure (DRI). It encompasses the processes applied throughout the lifecycle of a research project to guide the collection, documentation, storage, sharing, and preservation of research data, and allows researchers to find and access data.

- Digital Research Alliance of Canada (2022)

What Does RDM Do?

RDM is an essential part of the research process. Researchers use RDM to:

Establish a plan and guidelines to stay organized during research projects.
Secure and preserve research data.
Enable data sharing. This allows for research to have a greater impact by being more accessible.

The Digital Research Alliance of Canada has many training modules to learn about all aspects of RDM.

Guiding Materials

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There are important guiding materials all RRC Polytech researchers should be aware of on this topic:

Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy
Research funded by the Tri-Agencies: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), is subject to requirements on how research data is handled.
RRC Polytech Research Data Management Strategy
This is Red River College Polytechnic's Strategy document on Research Data Management. All research institutions that can administer Tri-Agency grant funds need to have a Strategy and make it publicly available.
The First Nations Principles of OCAP®
OCAP® is a framework created by the First Nations Information Governance Centre to assert information governance and Indigenous data sovereignty.
FAIR Principles
In 2016, the ‘FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship’ were published in Scientific Data. The authors intended to provide guidelines to improve the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse of digital assets.
CARE Principles
The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance are people and purpose-oriented, reflecting the crucial role of data in advancing Indigenous innovation and self-determination. These principles complement the existing FAIR principles encouraging open and other data movements to consider both people and purpose in their advocacy and pursuits.

Materials in the Library Collection

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Exploring Research Data Management by Andrew Cox and Eddy Verbaan
ISBN: 1783302801
Publication Date: 2018
Exploring Research Data Management provides an accessible introduction and guide to RDM with engaging tasks for the reader to follow and develop their knowledge.