Why should we manage research data?

Researchers can personally benefit from good practice in research data management. It can: 

• Ease navigation through required processes 
• Protect your intellectual property 
• Help locate and accurately distinguish between files/datasets 
• Keep files/datasets secure 
• Make it easier to share data with collaborators 
• Improve the opportunities to collaborate, be published and cited, and to be given the opportunity to carry out more research. 

In addition, many funders now mandate that research data should be discoverable, accessible and shareable and will have policies on how they expect research data to be managed. Check the relevant funder’s web pages for information.