Managing research data is an integral part of conducting research, and having a systematic way to do this provides evidence of data integrity in your research process. Research data management is the systematic organization of data throughout the research cycle, including:

1. Planning and developing a data management plan (DMP)
2. Collecting and storing data
3. Processing, uploading, and retrieving data
4. Analyzing data and publishing research results
5. Storing data for long-term access or archiving

In addition to data created during the research process, other research materials such as instrumentation or technical manuals, often require organization and curation. The UNT Libraries offer two digital repositories for managing, preserving, and providing access to your research data and research output: The UNT Data Repository and UNT Scholarly Works.

Nearly all federal funding agencies require researchers to submit data management plans as part of their grant applications. Often these plans include provisions for making data publicly accessible. A majority of private funding agencies also require data management plans as part of their proposal submission.

Data management throughout the research process has the following benefits:

• Increases the impact of your research by citing data from authoritative sources
• Provides evidence and documentation for your research data in conjunction with published results
• Complies with funders requirements and with copyright, access, and ethical considerations (such as HIPAA or FERPA)
• Preserves data for long-term access and safeguards your investment from loss
• Allows you to share data with others to further new discoveries and research

It's important to plan how you will collect, use, preserve, and share your data and research materials at the beginning of your research. Use the submenu tabs on the left to familiarize yourself with key components of data management and services within the UNT community.