data acquisition and management Introductory remarks

On the next page, you'll be introduced to a smattering of resources relevant to the topic of Data Acquisition and Management. But first, here are some initial remarks to help you to get situated.

Data plays a role at many of the different stages of science, and one way to discuss and understand the comprehensive research responsibilities of data acquisition and management is to think about the different requirements incurred at different stages. For example, Shamoo & Resnik (2015) divide scientific practice into the following stages, in order to present and assess those data acquisition and management responsibilities which are particular to each stage:

Problem Selection
Literature Search
Hypothesis Formation
Research Design
Collecting, Recording, and Storing Data
Data Analysis
Data Interpretation
Publishing Data
Sharing Data and Materials

As quotidian as it might seem, basic failures of scientific record-keeping often play a role in generating, sustaining, and occluding the satisfactory resolution of research misconduct cases.