To enable the further use of research data, researchers should follow the so-called FAIR principles, i.e. the data should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable. Lately, the FAIR principles have become one of the most central issues in open science due to the influence of several research funders.
Ensure that your data follows the FAIR principles by:
- saving the data in a data storage (Opening data)
- getting a permanent identifier for the data (Permanent identifiers)
- saving the data in an open and long-term file format (Choosing the File Format)
- creating metadata for the data (Metadata)
- licensing the data with a copyright deed that implicates the possible reuse (Copyright and licences)
Should all data be FAIR?
The simple answer to this is no. When you consider making your data FAIR, go through this short Digital Curation Center DCC checklist and consider which data to keep.
For more information on FAIR data, see the OpenAIRE guide How to make your data FAIR.
Improve the quality and impact of your research through data management - A guide for making your data FAIR
Article about research data management and FAIR-principles.
