InfoGuides: Research Data Management Basics: Get Started

Research Data Management Basics
How We Can Help You

Use this guide to learn about essential research data management steps and tasks.

Writing data management plans
- Meet funder mandates and plan a project.
- Use the DMPTool to help you build your data management plan.
Organizing & naming files
- Use structured naming and organizing guidelines.
Documenting data
- Create readme files, codebooks, data dictionaries, lab notebooks, metadata, and related forms of documentation.
Storing & backing up your work
- Learn about recommended practices for proper and reliable storage, access, and security.
Archiving & sharing research results
- Share your work in widely indexed and reliable research repositories.
- Access the Mason Archival Repository Service (MARS) and Dataverse, institutional research repositories available to George Mason researchers.

In-depth Information

Access handbooks and tutorials for in-depth or discipline-specific guidance for managing your research data.
Try the Open Science Framework for managing your research project components and for collaborating with research partners.
Access George Mason University's research policies & support

Related Data Management Guides and Handouts

Data Citation	Data Syntax and Organization
Open Science Framework (OSF)	SPSS: Managing Data
Spreadsheets	SPSS: Data Mangement Syntax
Working with Data	Stata for Theses

The University Libraries provides services, resources, and expertise to help you throughout your research process. Whether you need help with locating information, project planning, managing data, or collaborating, sharing, preserving, and publishing, we're here to help.

Advice and feedback on data management / data management and sharing plans and interpreting agency data sharing requirements.
Using our Repository Services for sharing your final data.
- We can also help you identify appropriate research repositories to deposit your final data.
Facilitating access to and providing support for data and project management platforms such as the Open Science Framework.
Teaching workshops on data topics, foundational computing and data science skills for classes, labs, and research groups.
- In partnership with the Office of Research Computing we manage the University's Carpentries membership and organize and teach Carpentries workshops.
- See DDSS workshops scheduled for the fall and spring semesters or request a workshop by using this form or e-mailing us.
- Review more information from DDSS on best practices, software tools and "how to's."

See our Research Support page which describes the variety of services we offer to support research or e-mail datahelp@gmu.edu.

Additional information is provided on the Get Help page of this guide.