Research Data Storage

What is Research Data?

What is Research Data? 

‘The evidence that underpins the answers to the research question, and can be used to validate findings regardless of its form’. (UKRI)  

This may include ‘statistics, collections of digital images, sound recordings, transcripts of interviews, survey data and field work observations, an interpretation, artwork, archives, found objects, published texts or a manuscript’.

For more information, see the library pages in Research Data Management.

What is Research Data Storage (RDS)?  

The University’s centrally managed storage provision for research data, available for all research projects. RDS provides a secure and available platform for live data. RDS provides: 

  • Protection for PI and University: compliance from a structured data management lifecycle that is attractive to potential funders and protects both individual researchers and the university
  • Protection against data loss: secure system with data backed up through instant replication and disaster recovery options to prevent data loss.  
  • Ease of use: simple request process, available on and off-campus via secure devices, automatic data back-ups and high speed.

  • Accessing and using Research Data Storage

    Principal Investigators will be signposted to both the ethics and research data storage allocation request form during project setup.

    Where storage requirements are indicated in the storage request form, the storage space will be created, and instructions for use and support will also be sent out automatically. Very large requirements may be subject to further assessment within research centres/faculties.

    RDS is available for all staff led research projects. Manchester Met OneDrive is recommended for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

    Support for RDS 

    The RDS system is simple to use and once set up can be accessed as mapped network drives, both on and off campus when using secure devices. If you need any support and guidance, please go to the RDS intranet pages.

    Is there best practice I should be following in relation to use of RDS? 

    All of your information relating to your research project should be stored in RDS. Do not store personal docs and other files which do not related to the specific project. 

    • Records management policy – see Policies, Guidance and Links
    • Records management guidance
    • Retention and Disposal Schedule – see Policies, Guidance and Links

  • Research Data Management (RDM)

    Research data management (RDM) is about how you create, organise, analyse, store, and prepare your data for preservation and reuse. Data needs to be managed throughout the entire research lifecycle and includes:

    • Planning for how you will manage the data including meeting funder requirements
    • Considering ethical and legal issues that affect data use and reuse
    • Being aware of issues pertaining to sensitive data and managing it accordingly
    • Making provision for your data after your project is finished

    Please visit the library pages for more information on Research Data Management

  • Policies, Guidance and Links

    Policies

    Guidelines

    Collaboration guidelines

    Dropbox Business is available to all research staff at Manchester Met for sharing and collaboration with external researchers, or where special requirements exist. This page provides support guidance about Dropbox Business. Please see the DropBox intranet page for more information.

    Records management/file management

    Information security 

    For more on information security and data protection policies please see the Information Security policy pages

  • Contact us

    For further information surrounding research data management, please contact the Research Data Group at [email protected]