Research Data Management: What Is Research Data Management

In the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR 215.36), "research data" is defined as: "the recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings, but not any of the following: preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews, [or] communications with colleagues. This 'recorded' material excludes physical objects (e.g., laboratory specimens)."

Types of research data include: 

• quantitative data 
• physical collections
• software programs and code
• questionnaires
• transcripts
• films, photographs, videos
• reports
• websites, blogs
• metadata 

Some Datasets can be found at:

• DATA.GOV
• American National Election Studies
• General Social Survey (GSS)
• Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research
• IPUMS International
• Pew Research Center
• SAGE Research Methods (May require campus log-in)