Research Guides: Research Data Management for Thesis/Dissertation: Resources

You Need to Know Now

The process of collecting and organizing the research data for your thesis or dissertation can be intimidating. A little advance planning on the front end can make evaluating and reporting your results much smoother. Review each of the videos and links in this Need to Know section before you start your project. Need help with TAMU library resources? Have suggestions for the content of this guide? Contact AskMSL@library.tamu.edu

Module 1: Introduction
(2 min 50 sec) Introduction to Research Data Management
Module 2: The Data Lifecycle
(4 min 33 sec) Your research data management practices will vary as you move through the research process.
Module 3: Data Entry
(3 min 36 sec) Avoid and catch errors when collecting data and assure good quality data.
Check out the link below to Lynda.com for ways to improve the quality of the data you collect with Excel or Access.

Lynda.com is an online learning resource providing thousands of computer-based training videos covering a variety of topics, including data management tools like Excel and Access to help you refine your data formatting skills. Use your NetID to login.

Module 4: Data Formatting
(5 min 6 sec) Well-formatted data will be easier to manipulate during data cleaning and analysis.
Module 5: Data Manipulation
(3 min 47 sec) Some good practices to help you address missing or unexpected values in your data and ease analysis.
Module 6: Describing Data
(8 min 3 sec) Some ideas for documenting your data while you're creating it, so you can recall your work and explain it to others later.
Module 7: Sensitive Data
(3 min 29 sec) A brief overview of issues around personal and protected data. HIPAA training modules and the links below will cover in more detail.

Texas A&M HIPAA IT Policy, Risk & Security

Texas A&M Research Compliance & Biosafety - Human Research Protection - Many great answers about human subject protections

Texas A&M Division of Research FAQs - Collection of questions and answers for many categories of human subject research.

Module 8: File Organization
(4 min 43 sec) Strategies to help you focus on working with your data, rather than trying to find files.
Module 9: File Storage
(3 min 38 sec) Safe storage of your data throughout the data lifecycle.

TAMU Cloud Computing Policies - Note that you will need to use the "on-premises" option for sensitive data.

Module 10: Project Documentation
(4 min 27 sec) Summary of documenting important parts of your workflow to help you share information with advisors, write your thesis/dissertation and ensure your data is useful later.

You Need to Know for Your Future Self

These topics may be relevant for your current project (check with your advisor), but your publishers, employers, collaborators, funders, and other researchers who find your data interesting will appreciate your familiarity with this information. Review these videos and links for information You Need to Know for Your Future Self.

Sharing Your Data

Data Sharing, Citation and Reuse
(4 min 32 sec) This video from University of Minnesota Libraries gives a good overview of data sharing issues.
Note: resources and assignment information are specific to UM Libraries' online course, not TAMU resources or assignments.
Johnston, Lisa R., Jeffryes, Jon. (2012). Data Management Course for Structural Engineers. University of Minnesota Libraries. http://z.umn.edu/datamgmt.
NIH Data Sharing Repositories
Check out individual data sharing repositories administered by National Institutes of Health / National Library of Medicine.
re3data.org
Search for data to use or places to share data among over 2,000 data repositories globally.
Responsible Stewardship of Research Data (TAMU SAP 15.99.03.M1.03)
This Texas A&M Standard Administrative Procedure is a useful reference, especially Section 3 - Ownership and Section 4 - Collection and Retention.

For more information about data sharing and repositories check out TAMU Libraries' Data Sharing and Preservation page.

Archive and Preserve Your Data

Data Archiving and Preservation
(5 min 37 sec) This video from University of Minnesota Libraries gives a good overview of data archiving and preservation.
Note: resources and assignment information are specific to UM Libraries' online course, not TAMU resources or assignments.
Johnston, Lisa R., Jeffryes, Jon. (2012). Data Management Course for Structural Engineers. University of Minnesota Libraries. http://z.umn.edu/datamgmt.

For more information about data sharing and repositories check out TAMU Libraries' Data Sharing and Preservation page.

Data Management Planning (DMP)

The what, why and how of data management planning
(5 min 30 sec) Many funders require a data management or data sharing plan as part of their application process. Check out this overview video from Research Data Netherlands. (2014, April 1).
DMPTool
The DMPTool is a free resource that helps guide you through the process of creating a data management plan (DMP). It provides links to funder information, suggested answers, and data management resources. Texas A&M University researchers can log in with their NetID and passwords.

For more information check out the TAMU Libraries' Data Management Planning page.