Checklista: Setting the stage for your research

Good to know

• Think about what types of research data you will be managing. The Document your data management page describes how required documentation is related and the order to follow in each step.

To set the stage for your research

• Start by establishing an information classification that defines the type of data you will be managing.
• Then conduct a risk and vulnerability analysis to describe existing threats related to how the project’s information will be processed and how the project will manage these risks.
• Establish a data management plan (DMP) that describes how you will work with information during the research process. Use the information classification, risk and vulnerability analysis, and the tool provided by the University.
• Apply for relevant permits. If you are applying for ethical review approval, you may need to prepare information and consent forms. This is described in more detail in the checklist section on managing research participants.
• If you are going to use genetic resources from plants, animals or microorganisms from other countries, you are required to comply with the Nagoya Protocol.
• If planning to process personal data, you need to give notification of personal data processing and possibly conduct an impact assessment. Read more about this in the checklist section on managing personal data and research participants.
• If your research project uses an IT system or a cloud service that is not already available through the University, you need to draw up a retainment plan when purchasing the service.
• If you need to purchase a product or service, your first choice should be the products and services provided by the University or through the University’s procurement agreements. If no procurement agreement has been signed for the needed product or service, you may need to conduct a procurement.
• If you are going to use data from other public authorities, you need to be clear about your purpose when requesting access to this research data. Consider secrecy and ethical review aspects and use your Umeå University email address.
• If there are agreements related to your research project, you need to understand what they mean and what you need to do to comply with these. Assistance in understanding agreements is available from the Legal Affairs Office. You should also read the checklist section on signing agreements and research collaborations.
• Check the requirements on your research by your funding bodies, such as ethical review, documentation, purchasing, communication and reporting. Some funding bodies also require compliance with the FAIR principles, which facilitates the reuse of research data. You can find these requirements either in your grant agreement or in other terms and conditions from the funding body.
• Consider registering your research in advance before you begin data collection. This will make your study more transparent and is a requirement for certain types of publications (such as “Registered Reports” and “Clinical Trials”). Contact the library if you have any questions.