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Select all of the following that apply to you and your research project to tailor the topics and resources displayed. Your selections will persist every time you access the site on the same device, until you change or reset the selections.
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Utilize the "Customize Your Path" feature to refine the information displayed in myRESEARCHpath based on your role, project inclusions, sponsor or funding, and management center.

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Plan and Refine Project
Topic

Devising the data strategy

Need assistance with devising the data strategy?

It is vital for a successful project to have a strategy for the lifecycle of data, before the project is underway.  This includes plans for data collection, management, analysis, storage, dissemination and archiving. Once a project has started up, it is difficult to create or change the strategy while ensuring scientific aims are met and findings are reusable and reproducible.

This page and its related resources are designed to help investigators think through a data strategy.

The data workflow

Data collection and acquisition

Data collection strategies should be based upon what data outputs are essential for the aims of a project, and what appropriate and approved methods are needed to obtain that data. Check "Related Resources" on the right hand side of this page to find specific policies or guidance around data collection methods.

Visit Develop the data management plan to find best practices and considerations for research methods for specific data collection needs.

For acquiring data from outside of Duke, visit Discover and access data. 

Visit Plan the project or methodology for general help with data collection methods or operational needs of a project or to explore which consultative services best fit the project needs.

Data management and storage

For best practices around setting up a plan to manage your data see Develop the data management plan.

Attributes of your data will determine where you can store them. Refer to the Duke services and data classification guide to determine appropriate storage options. See also Determine compute and data storage solutions.

For funder-specific help, see NIH specific management plan guidance.

Data analysis

Using appropriate analysis methods, with data that have been cleaned, is critical to ensuring results are accurately interpreted.

The Duke Library and the Medical Center Library can provide guidance on selecting and working with various analysis tools. The OIT Software Licensing site provides access to Duke licensed data analysis software.

To access experts to provide statistical consultations or suggest potential collaborations, visit Design the analysis plan.

Sharing and retaining data

Maintaining data integrity, preserving data provenance, allowing data sharing and reuse, and complying with institutional and funder regulations, are just a few reasons why appropriately archiving data should be carefully considered and part of the initial data management plan. For sponsored research, there may also be specific data sharing requirements associated with the award.

For data sharing guidance, see Guidance for sharing research data.

Access guidance on long-term storage and archiving at Archive data and documents.