Publishing research data means describing it in a general way and, if possible, making it openly available to others. In return, data become easier to share and cite, and is guaranteed to be preserved for the long term. Research data can be made available through a repository, where a copy of the data is preserved for the long term and made searchable through the repository’s catalog service.
Share data
When research data is accessible, it enables validation of results and reuse in new projects, teaching, and method development. Making research data available and free to use can inspire new research collaborations, both nationally and internationally. Depositing data in a certified archive also protects the content through secure storage and backup, which complements local storage.
Publish data
Chalmers Data Office supports the publication or sharing of data in all types of repositories. We offer dedicated support for publishing in the Swedish National Data Service (SND) and Zenodo. For more information about each repository, see below. There are also subject-specific repositories available. re3Data.org is a global registry of digital repositories for research data from various academic disciplines. An internationally recognized certification for repositories is CoreTrustSeal, which is based on requirements related to trustworthiness, data security, documentation, and sustainability. It signals compliance with established standards and can be considered a reliable choice.
Data published via a repository usually receives a Persistent Identifier (PID), such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI). A PID promotes visibility, long-term accessibility, and makes it easier to cite datasets. Chalmers Data Office can also assist in creating DOIs for individual datasets or collections. This requires that the data is published and accessible in a sustainable way, and that there is a plan for long-term maintenance.
Citing Research Data
A DOI makes it easier to cite research data. The practice of publishing and citing datasets provides recognition and reward for those who produce the data. When data is published, it becomes available for replication and verification of research results, which increases the transparency of the entire study.
Data is cited in the same way as other information sources and should include author(s), title, year of publication, version, data archive, and DOI, for example:
Barber, L.B., Weber, A.K., LeBlanc, D.R., Hull, R.B., Sunderland, E.M., and Vecitis, C.D., 2017, Poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances in contaminated groundwater, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2014-2015 (ver. 1.1, March 24, 2017): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7Z899KT.
Collaboration with the Swedish National Data Service
SND has the primary task of supporting the accessibility, preservation, and reuse of research data and related materials. Chalmers Data Office collaborates with SND to facilitate the sharing and citation of research data and is a local SND node in the SND network.
The SND network consists of Swedish universities and other research organizations that have agreed to create local nodes for research support units that handle research data. The main task of this unit is to assist researchers in their organization with making research data as accessible as possible, in accordance with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). This includes offering researchers training and support on FAIR data management and accessibility, as well as publishing their metadata in SND’s national research data catalog (DORIS) and securely storing the data. For more information on SND and Researchdata.se, see here.
