Index

Research data

According to the definition on the website Forschungsdaten.info, research data are data generated during scientific activity (e.g. through measurements, surveys, source work).

This definition applies to both newly generated and processed data, regardless of whether these data are incorporated into a publication and whether they are available in analog or digital form. Research data form the basis of scientific work.

This results in the need for a discipline and project-specific understanding of research data with different requirements for the preparation, processing and management of the data: this is known as research data management.

Research data and their metadata are explained simply in this video using the example of squirrel research.

FAU believes that storing and managing research data is crucial for successful, sustainable research and scientific integrity. It is essential that research data are handled responsibly and methodically. If the University, its members and the general public are to benefit, this must not only be encouraged but also made a requirement, and it is important to raise awareness of research data and FAIR principles in the long term. See FAU Research Data Policy.