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Research Data Management and Sharing: Data Organization

A guide for researchers on how to manage and share the data they generate.

Organizational Methods

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Organization is essential when it comes to managing data. Without workflows and guidelines in place, your research could be lost, or it may be incomprehensible to those who look at it at a later time.

  • Consider best practices for naming your data files, so that you can find them later.
  • Think carefully about the file format you save your data in, taking into consideration that the format may change at a later time.
  • Save different versions in a clear manner so you can go back if you decide you prefer an earlier version of a record.
  • Always have a backup in case your original files get lost or become corrupted.

Sources: University of Pittsburgh [Internet]. Pittsburgh PA: University of Pittsburgh; c2021. Research data management @ Pitt: Organizing data; 2021 April 29; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://pitt.libguides.com/managedata/organizingdata

University of Cambridge [Internet]. Cambridge UK: University of Cambridge; c2021. Data management guide: Organising your data; 2020; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.data.cam.ac.uk/data-management-guide/organising-your-data

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