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Data: a Practical Guide

Data ethics

Final prototype for the Data practical guide.
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Data ethics

On this page we consider the ethical questions surrounding the gathering and storage of research data.

Data ethics

How might data ethics and data management relate to your research?

We take a look at some of the issues in data ethics and management and how they're relevant to your research project, from thinking about what data you collect or use to considering what the tools you use actually do and how you can look for bias in your dataset.

Data protection

Just as we need to be mindful of what we post about other people on the internet, we also need to be careful about any personal information we are gathering and storing about people in our research. If you are developing a site or issuing an online survey you need to be aware of data protection laws.

For example, did you know that according to data protection laws in the UK, all personal data that you collect must be:

  • Processed fairly and lawfully
  • Processed for a specific purpose
  • Adequate, relevant and not excessive
  • Accurate and kept up-to-date
  • Not kept for longer than necessary
  • Processed in accordance with the individual’s rights
  • Protected by appropriate security measures
  • Not transferred outside the EEA without adequate protection

Should you be collecting and storing other people’s personal data it is imperative that you are doing this for a specific reason and that the data is secure.

Research data

When you collect data, you need to store it somewhere. Take a look at the links below for tips on storing and organising the data you collect.

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