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Oxford University

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The Research Data Oxford website is the University of Oxford's central source of information and guidance about research data management - also known as RDM.

Research data management is an umbrella term, covering a range of data-related activities during the whole research project life cycle, from before it starts to after the project concludes.

This includes:

  • Data management planning
  • Good practice in collecting and working with data during the live phase of the project
  • Compliance with legal and ethical requirements relating to research data
  • What happens to the data after the project is complete: preservation or disposal, and data sharing where appropriate

Good research data management is an essential part of good research. It has two key goals:

  • Smoothing the progress of the research process, by ensuring data is kept safe and that it’s possible to make the best use of it
  • Extending the life of data beyond the project, by ensuring it remains useful and accessible

Each section of this site deals with a key aspect of research data management. If you're new to the topic, good places to start are:

About data management

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that good data management is an intrinsic part of doing good research.

Data management plans

All University of Oxford researchers, whether funded or not, are encouraged to create a data management plan (DMP) as part of good scholarly practice. It's also common for funding bodies to require a DMP to be included as part of any funding application.