An essential part of RDM is ensuring that research data is organized and described. This is done by creating file naming conventions, using certain file formats, and creating metadata. This benefits the research team by creating high quality research while also creating research data that is findable and shareable.
Many commonly used file formats are proprietary, meaning that they can only be opened or accessed through a specific software. Best practice is to use file formats that are open format to ensure long-term access and preservation. Some examples of open formats include:
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To keep track of your data and research material, for both the research teams and others if your data is shared, it is essential to establish a file naming convention and to track file versions.
A file naming convention is a system that is created to name files, so they are easy to organize and find. A file naming convention should be:
For example:
File versions are created when materials are edited, thereby creating a new version of the document. It is essential to organize different versions of your documents so you can track the changes made over time. This includes keeping a copy of your original, unedited data.
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Metadata plays a crucial role in research data management by providing descriptive information about research data, facilitating data discovery, interpretation, and reuse. Often describes as "data about data," metadata is information such as creator, location, date, and title about research data.
When creating metadata, you often follow a metadata standard or schema to standardize the information. This is particularly important when depositing research data into repositories. There are many different metadata standards that you can follow, including discipline specific standards and more general ones. Common standards include (links open in a new window):
To learn more about specific metadata standards and find one that is right for your research, visit The Digital Curation Centre's (DCC) Disciplinary Metadata page.
README files provide information about your data, including:
README files are a way to describe your data to ensure accessibility and understanding when sharing or depositing your data. README files do not fully replace good metadata practices but can complement metadata or replace formal metadata if no specific metadata standards work for your data.
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