What is research data?
What is research data?
Answer
Research data are hard to define. There is no consensus on a definition. What constitutes research data depends on the discipline, the research funder in question, and the context in which a definition is required.
In the case of Research Data Management, data may be usefully defined by its purpose, which could be
- to produce original research results
‘Research data refers to any type of data created, collected, or generated in a digital or non-digital form that is analysed to produce original research results.’
SHU’s research data management policy
- to allow validation of research findings
Research data is defined as recorded factual material commonly retained by and accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings; although the majority of such data is created in digital format, all research data is included irrespective of the format in which it is created.’
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)