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Research data

You need to manage research data at all stages of the research process. We provide in-depth guidance on planning, organising, sharing, and preserving data. You can receive support in your data management from experts at the University and national organisations. On this page, you will also find relevant policy documents for Umeå University, information about the FAIR principles, and summarised support for heads of department.

What is research data?

Research data is any data you produce or collect as part of your research. For example, it can be data from measurements, statistics, or interview material.

For your research to be credible, it is important that others can review and reuse your data. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly common for funders and journals to impose requirements on how your data is handled and shared.

Research data management in four steps

Guidelines at Umeå University

The University's regulations include the following documents relevant to research data management.

Umeå University has also developed a checklist to guide you before, during, and after a research project.

Checklist for research projects (Aurora)

FAIR and other key principles

Many funding organisations require research data to adhere to the FAIR principles, which Umeå University supports. These principles aim to facilitate the reuse of research data.

Making research data accessible and FAIR criteria (The Swedish Research Council)

Four principles for FAIR data

FAIR data, that is research data that fulfils the FAIR principles, should be:

  • findable;
  • accessible;
  • interoperable between systems;
  • reusable.

You can read more about the FAIR principles here:

FAIR principles (Go FAIR) 

More guidelines on data management

CARE: Indigenous rights and open data

The shift towards open science and increased access to research data is considered a significant advancement but raises concerns among the world's indigenous peoples. Specifically, there are concerns that ethical aspects may suffer as data becomes more openly available. When data can be reused in new contexts, indigenous peoples cannot track their data. Situations may arise where there is no apparent link between the indigenous contexts from which materials and data have been collected and the research context in which the data is being reused.

The CARE principles complement the FAIR principles and encourage researchers to consider both people and purpose when sharing or reusing data.

The CARE principles (GIDA) 

You can read more about CARE in this feature:

CARE: Indigenous rights and open data

The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity was developed in 2017 by the organisation All European Academies (ALLEA) and aims to guide researchers towards good research practice. These guidelines address several aspects of research work, one of which is data management. Among other things, the guidelines state that researchers and research-performing organisations should ensure compliance with the FAIR principles and maintain transparency about data availability.

European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA) 

For heads of department

As the head of a department, you are responsible for managing and archiving research data within your department. Here, you can find direct links to essential resources.

Support for heads of department

Find essential information on the page Preserve data

We have gathered information on preserving, archiving, and deleting data into one convenient location. You will also find links to legal information on public documents, confidentiality in research, and de about data storage from ITS.

Preserve data

You also need to be familiar with the information on these pages:

Research data policy

Checklist for research projects (Aurora)

Create a data management plan

Dokumenterad forskningsdatahantering (Aurora, Swedish only)

Disposal of research data (Aurora)

Research data management (Aurora)

Sharing research data in research collaborations (Aurora)

Contact and support in research data

At Umeå University, research data support is coordinated, with different functions responsible for specific data management issues. Here, you can read about the support available and whom to contact:

Contact and support in research data