Managing and sharing your research data can increase its visibility (and consequently the visibility of your research), ensuring the full potential of your research is exploited. This can then provide a growing resource for further research, education and training.

Research data is all data arising as a result of a research project. It can take many forms, including paper and electronic records, recordings, or products arising from the research. Data can be raw data, analysed data, and data which arise during the course of research which is later translated into another form or destroyed, such as audio and video recordings.

This guidance provides best-practice advice on managing your research data throughout the lifecycle of your project. The UWE Bristol project manager allocated to your project is responsible for the management of all research data collected during a project. Please refer to the UWE Bristol Data Management Policy when planning any research project.

Working with your research data

Guidance on organising and naming files, version control, documenting your work, storing and backing up your data, and working with project partners.

Preserving and disposing of your data

Guidance on maintaining your data over time, archiving, selection for retention or disposal, using digital repositories and open access.

External advice

Guidance from the UK Data Archive and Digital Curation Centre on managing research data, including webinars and training events available to support researchers.

These guidance pages have been adapted from material provided by the University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, University of Bath, University of Edinburgh, Northumbria University, MIT, University of Leicester, Digital Curation Centre, and UK Data Archive. Thanks are offered to these organisations accordingly.