Research data refers to (digital) data generated during a research process or resulting from it. Depending on the research question, this data is produced using various methods, such as measurements, surveys, and source analysis. It forms the foundation of scientific work and documents its results. This gives rise to a discipline- and project-specific understanding of research data, with varying requirements for its processing and management.
The difference between primary and secondary data:
- Primary data is data that is generated during collection or digitization without any further processing.
- Secondary data has already been processed or further analyzed.
Since research data is necessary for verifying the research results based on it, its preservation is a recognized component of good scientific practice.
During the research process, research data passes through various stages at each of which measures can be taken to maintain the scientific validity of the data, ensure its accessibility to third parties for evaluation and analysis, and safeguard the chain of evidence. The data lifecycle illustrates these stages.
