Data life cycle
Research data are the primary results of various kinds of research. We distinguish between rough data and processed data, but in practice the division is not very clear. Instruments are becoming increasingly advanced and part of the data processing can be done before the data are even produced.
The management of data collections is called research data curation or digital curation. The Digital Curation Centre defines it as follows: "Digital curation is the activity of managing the use of data from its point of creation to ensure it is available for discovery and re-use in the future”.
Data have a longer life than the period of their creation. The illustration indicates the various phases in the life cycle of research data. It is based on the UK Data Archive’s Life Cycle1.
This image is based on the wheel by Flickr user juniorvelo
The wheel symbolizes the idea that an academic discipline does not really get going until all phases of the cycle are completed. It also symbolizes the fact that data do not stand on their own within the research process. There's more to riding a bicycle than just having wheels :-)
The phases in the life cycle of research data are:
1. search in datasets
base your research question on existing data
2. create data
experiment, simulate, measure, observe
3. process data
save, check, render anonymous, describe
4. analyse data
interpret, publish
5. archive data
migrate, back up, add metadata, document, archive
6. share data
open, facilitate, search & download
7. reuse data
build on, reanalyse, reinterpret, combine, present
1. UK Data archive. (2011). Research Data Lifecycle. Retrieved 8-12-2011 from http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/create-manage/life-cycle
