Research data
Research data management is a central part of the research process. This means that you, as a researcher, take responsibility for the data on which the research is based - from planning and structuring to long-term preservation and eventual sharing. This is done through conscious decisions about how data should be organised, documented, protected, archived and when it is possible to make it available to others.
Good research data management makes it easier to keep track of the material during the project and contributes to a more efficient workflow – both individually and in collaboration with colleagues. This reduces the risk of data loss and also facilitates the reuse of data in future projects. At the same time, it becomes easier to meet the requirements of funders, journals and current legislation. By working systematically with your data, you not only strengthen the individual project, but also contribute to increasing the visibility, transparency and credibility of the research.
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Guidelines for research data management at BTH
According to SUHF, "Swedish higher education institutions shall work to promote the accessibility of research results and research data". In accordance with this, guidelines for research data management at BTH were established and decided in 2023. These guidelines support the correct management, storage, preservation and sharing of research data. The DAU group at BTH will continuously support the work related to research data at the university.
There is a lot for you as a researcher to consider, and below we have gathered useful resources.
Resources
Guidelines for research data management (BTH) External link, opens in new window.
Researchdata.se External link, opens in new window. is the Swedish National Data Service’s (SND) national portal where researchers can find, share, and reuse data.
Data management plans
A Data Management Plan (DMP) is a document that describes how data collected or generated during a research project will be managed, organised, stored, shared, and preserved. It is a tool for planning the management of research data throughout the research process. DMPonline is a web-based tool that helps researchers create, manage, and share data management plans (DMPs) in accordance with requirements from funders and higher education institutions. DAU group at BTH has created a template for BTH's researchers.
- DMPonline(BTH)
- SND information on data management plans. There is also a checklist. External link, opens in new window.
- Organising data
Organising research data in a structured and well-documented way makes it easier for you and your research group to find and keep track of data and files during the project. Good organisation reduces the risk of data loss and saves time during analysis and reporting. It's important to consider how files are named, what format is used, how different versions are saved, and how folders are structured. A central part of describing and structuring data is the use of metadata – i.e. data about data. Metadata acts as a description that provides context and explains what a particular data collection contains, how it was collected, and how it can be used.
- SND information on organising data External link, opens in new window.
- UK Data Service "Organising data". External link, opens in new window.
- UK Data Service “Document your data”. External link, opens in new window.
Preservation and storage
When a research project is nearing its end, it is important to consider how research data will be preserved and made available in the long term. Proper and clear documentation ensures that your data remains understandable and reusable in the future. An important part of making research data searchable and citable is to create a link to a persistent identifier, a so-called Persistent Identifier (PID). Common examples are DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for articles and datasets.
- SND information "Describe, share and preserve data" External link, opens in new window.
- UK Data Service "Store your data". External link, opens in new window.
Where to publish data?
We recommend that BTH researchers publish their data in a certified repository such as Zenodo or DORIS (SND's catalogue for research data). You can also search for repositories via re3data.org. Zenodo hosts a community for Blekinge Institute of Technology that you can connect your data to. Datasets in the BTH's community on Zenodo are also visible in SND's national portal Researchdata.se.
Within the framework of both open science and the FAIR principles, the ambition is for research data to be as accessible and reusable as possible. However, this does not mean that all data can or should be shared openly. Sensitive material – such as data containing personal data or links to trade secrets – is subject to legal and ethical restrictions. In such cases, it is still valuable to provide a description of the data and its contents, even if the material itself cannot be published openly. You can find more information on Inside regarding BTH’s policies on restricted data.
FAIR principles
The FAIR principles are guiding recommendations for how research data should be managed in order to be as useful as possible – both during and after a project. FAIR stands for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable and the principles aim to enhance the quality, transparency and long-term value of data within the research community.
Contact us
DAU (Data Access Unit) supports researchers in their work with research data and data management plans.
E-mail: forskningsdata@bth.se