Glossary

Definitions

Data

The definition of data is going to depend on the discipline, project, and use. For example, for the purposes of data sharing, the NIH defines scientific data as “The recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as of sufficient quality to validate and replicate research findings, regardless of whether the data are used to support scholarly publications. Scientific data do not include laboratory notebooks, preliminary analyses, completed case report forms, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews, communications with colleagues, or physical objects, such as laboratory specimens.” However, for the purposes of the conduct of research and using appropriate storage methods, all of the listed types of information are data. 

Data

Data Management Plan

This is a document that describes the process of managing the data over the course of the data lifecycle, including organization, collection, access, storage, protection, and sharing of research data. While frequently required by funders prior to award, a DMP should be updated over the course of the project (modifications may need to be pre-approved by the funder). The ultimate goal is that the data will be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable by others (see FAIR Principles). 


 

Data Sharing

This refers to making scientific data available for use by others, but there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Data produced as part of federally funded research is expected to be shared to greatest extent possible within the ethical, legal, and technical constraints specific to the project. As noted under “data”, this does not apply to all data produced over the course of a project.

Digital Persistent Identifier (DPI)

This refers to a unique string of letters and numbers used to distinguish between, and locate, different objects or resources. The use of DPIs provides a consistent and reusable link for the identification of individual researchers, datasets, scholarly works, etc. Common types include the digital object identifier (DOI) and Open Researcher and Contributor ID, but there are many types, including for pieces of equipment or centers like Research Resource IDs

Enterprise Software/Systems

Enterprise refers to things used by the organization, not just individual users. 

FAIR and CARE Principles
  1. FAIR principles describe the goals of scholarly data for sharing and preserving scientific data. Data that are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable (meaning usable within different system), and Reusable have greater availability and are easier to cite, discover, and use with common tools. 
  2. The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance direct data users to make additional efforts in data sovereignty for Indigenous Peoples. The CARE Principles include Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics. Together, FAIR and CARE work together to consider both people and purpose in the knowledge economy.
Metadata

The data about the data. The goal of metadata is to provide information to users of the data, with a growing push towards machine-readable formatting for ease of search and retrieval. Metadata may include descriptions of the data structure, basic information about the creation of the dataset, constraints for use, etc. Metadata standards may vary by discipline, and repositories may mandate what format is required.


 

Open vs. Public Access

Per SPARC, Open Access refers to content freely available on the internet without barriers to use. In comparison, Public Access is findable and accessible, but may include barriers to access, such as rules for access, distribution, and use. 

Repository

A data repository is a place to store data for the purposes of maintenance and/or sharing. Repositories are typically managed by curation specialists. NIH provides a list of desirable characteristics to look for when choosing a data repository. 


 

Risk Classification

Per Executive Memo 42, all data stored in University systems must have a data risk classification. The data risk classification determines the security controls applied to endpoints (devices/instruments), networks, data storage, etc. There are two data risk self-assessment tools used at UNL: one is for research data, and the other is for institutional data


 

Acronyms

Conducting research involves many different agencies, offices, and terms. The list below includes a variety of terms related to research efforts at UNL. If you would like to suggest an addition to this list, please email researchdata@unl.edu. 

  1. ACS: American Community Survey
  2. AD: Active Directory
  3. AY: Academic Year
  4. BA/BAA: Business Associates Agreement
  5. BI: Broader Impacts
  6. BLS: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  7. BOSR: Bureau of Sociological Research
  8. CDC: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  9. COI: Conflict of Interest
  10. CBPR: Community Based Participatory Research
  11. CDA: Confidential Disclosure Agreement
  12. CFR: Code of Federal Regulations
  13. CITI: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative
  14. COC: Certificate of Confidentiality
  15. COGR: Council on Government Relations
  16. DARPA: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  17. DBER:
  18. DFAR: Defense Federal Acquisitions Regulations
  19. DHHS: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  20. DHS: Department of Homeland Security
  21. DMPs/DMSP: Data Management Plans/Data Management and Sharing Plans or Data Monitoring Plan
  22. DOC: U.S. Department of Commerce
  23. DOD: U.S. Department of Defense
  24. DoEd: U.S. Department of Education
  25. DOE: U.S. Department of Energy 
  26. DOI: U.S. Department of Interior
  27. DOJ: U.S. Department of Justice
  28. DOL: U.S. Department of Labor
  29. DOT: U.S. Department of Transportation
  30. DTA: Data Transfer Agreement
  31. DUA: Data Use Agreement
  32. EAR: Export Administration Regulations
  33. EHRs: Electronic Health Records
  34. EHS: Environmental Health and Safety
  35. EM: Executive Memorandum of the President (NU System)
  36. EMA: Ecological Momentary Assessment
  37. EPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  38. F&A: Facilities and Administration Costs
  39. FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable
  40. FDA: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  41. FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  42. FY: Fiscal Year
  43. GDPR: General Data Protection Regulations (European Union)
  44. GRA: Graduate Research Assistant
  45. GTA: Graduate Teaching Assistant
  46. HCC: Holland Computing Center
  47. HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act 
  48. HRPP: Human Research Protection Program
  49. HSO: Nebraska Highway Safety Office
  50. IACUC: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
  51. IBC: Institutional Biosafety Committee
  52. IO: Institutional Official
  53. IP: Intellectual Property
  54. ITAR: International Traffic in Arms Regulations
  55. JIT: Just In Time
  56. LOI: Letter of Intent
  57. MTA: Material Transfer Agreement
  58. NAS: National Academy of Sciences
  59. NASEM: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
  60. NASIS: Nebraska Annual Social Indicator Survey
  61. NCC: Nebraska Crime Commissions
  62. NDA: Non-Disclosure Agreement
  63. NDE: Nebraska Department of Education
  64. NDHHS: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
  65. NIH: U.S.  National Institutes of Health
  66. NOA: Notice of Award
  67. NOFO: Notice of Funding Opportunity
  68. NSF: U.S. National Science Foundation
  69. OMG: U.S. Office of Management and Budget
  70. OPD: Office of Proposal Development (at UNL)
  71. OSP: Office of Sponsored Programs (at UNL)
  72. OSTP: U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy
  73. PHAB: Public Health Accreditation Board
  74. PHI: Protected Health Information
  75. PI: Principal Investigator
  76. PII: Personal Identifying Information
  77. QA: Quality Assurance 
  78. QI: Quality Improvement
  79. RCT: Randomized Controlled Trial 
  80. RCR: Responsible Conduct of Research
  81. RCS: Research Compliance Services
  82. RDC: Research Data Center
  83. RFP: Request for Proposals
  84. SDOH: Social Determinants of Health
  85. sIRB: Single Institutional Review Board
  86. SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
  87. SROC: Scientific Research Oversight Committee
  88. UAE: Unanticipated Adverse Effect
  89. UNMC: University of Nebraska Medical Center
  90. USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
  91. UX: User Experience