Research Data Management - Policy and Signposting
The Lancaster University Research Data Management Policy (docx) was approved by Senate in February 2013 (last revised in 2015).
The Policy applies to all research conducted by University staff and postgraduate research students, regardless of whether or not the research is externally funded. The policy does not currently apply to taught postgraduate students or undergraduates (apart from in exceptional circumstances).
There are many other teams of experts at Lancaster University who manage other relevant policies, and can help you with specific details of your Research Data Management.
Accordion
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Ethics
The Research Services Office provides detailed guidance surrounding research ethics, and some of this is applicable to research data, including fabrication or misrepresentation of data, failure to manage and/or preserve data and primary materials and confidentiality clauses e.g. commercial data.
There is some overlap between ethics applications requirements and data management plan requirements, and each process will ask a small amount about the other, but the teams work together to ensure this is minimised.
Lancaster University Research Integrity, Ethics & Governance
Lancaster University Research Ethics and Research Governance Policy (pdf)
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Security and Storage
ISS provide expert support with IT Security and this encompasses: storing secure information, sharing or transferring information securely and secure disposal of information. There are some excellent advice pages in all of these areas, linked below. The University is not certified in the ISO27001 family of standards, but adheres to the principles of them, which meets all Research Data Management requirements.
Lancaster University IT Security
Storage & Sharing, choosing a platform
Security: storing, transferring and disposing
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Data Protection
Data Protection is also covered by internal policy, and there is detailed guidance and training available at the link below, maintained by Information Governance. Here you can get expert advice on GDPR and other legal aspects of data protection, such as information classifications.
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Records Management and Retention
The Records Management team, also within Information Governance, maintain a records retention schedule specifically for research. This may impact some of your decisions in Research Data Management.
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Data Sharing Agreements and Contracts
If your research requires a Data Sharing Agreement, or you are not sure, then the Contracts team in the Research Services Office can provide expert legal support.
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Intellectual Property and Copyright
Copyright expertise is provided by the Research and Enterprise Services team. It is important to check any terms within a funding agreement or acceptance for publication, as this will usually answer any questions in this area. In very general terms, IP belongs to the university, but there are many nuances and detail that will effect this statement, and support is provided by the team linked below.