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.
| Types of data | What this means | Example |
| Anonymous | Data that were obtained or in current state stored without any identifiers linking to a specific person | A researcher conducts a web survey without any direct or indirect identifiers |
| Coded | Individual cases in a dataset have a unique code. In a separate file, this unique code links each case to identifiable information. If the person using the data has access to the linked file, the data is considered identifiable | A research team collects data and assigns a random ID number to each case. That number replaces their participant or source name in the dataset, and a file with the connecting information is stored separately. |
| De-identified | Data that had identifiable information in it, but that information has been removed and destroyed | A researcher has a dataset with participant name, dates of events, and address. The researchers strips all of these variables from the data set. |
| Identifiable | Data that includes participant name or other unique identifier. Indirect identifiers may also lead to identifiable data. | A researcher collects data including name, email, and phone number. |
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 (ORCID), 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
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. The Australian Research Data Commons has a FAIR Data Self-Assessment Tool that can help researchers identify ways to increase FAIRness
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.
ACS: American Community Survey
AD: Active Directory
AY: Academic Year
BA/BAA: Business Associates Agreement
BI: Broader Impacts
BLS: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
BOSR: Bureau of Sociological Research
CDC: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
COI: Conflict of Interest
CBPR: Community Based Participatory Research
CDA: Confidential Disclosure Agreement
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations
CITI: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative
COC: Certificate of Confidentiality
COGR: Council on Government Relations
DARPA: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
DBER: Discipline-Based Education Research
DFAR: Defense Federal Acquisitions Regulations
DHHS: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
DHS: Department of Homeland Security
DMPs/DMSP: Data Management Plans/Data Management and Sharing Plans or Data Monitoring Plan
DOC: U.S. Department of Commerce
DOD: U.S. Department of Defense
DoEd: U.S. Department of Education
DOE: U.S. Department of Energy
DOI: U.S. Department of Interior
DOJ: U.S. Department of Justice
DOL: U.S. Department of Labor
DOT: U.S. Department of Transportation
DTA: Data Transfer Agreement
DUA: Data Use Agreement
EAR: Export Administration Regulations
EHRs: Electronic Health Records
EHS: Environmental Health and Safety
EM: Executive Memorandum of the President (NU System)
EMA: Ecological Momentary Assessment
EPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
F&A: Facilities and Administration Costs
FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable
FDA: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FY: Fiscal Year
GDPR: General Data Protection Regulations (European Union)
GRA: Graduate Research Assistant
GTA: Graduate Teaching Assistant
HCC: Holland Computing Center
HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act
HRPP: Human Research Protection Program
HSO: Nebraska Highway Safety Office
IACUC: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
IBC: Institutional Biosafety Committee
IO: Institutional Official
IP: Intellectual Property
ITAR: International Traffic in Arms Regulations
JIT: Just In Time
LOI: Letter of Intent
MTA: Material Transfer Agreement
NAS: National Academy of Sciences
NASEM: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
NASIS: Nebraska Annual Social Indicator Survey
NCC: Nebraska Crime Commissions
NDA: Non-Disclosure Agreement
NDE: Nebraska Department of Education
NDHHS: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
NIH: U.S. National Institutes of Health
NOA: Notice of Award
NOFO: Notice of Funding Opportunity
NSF: U.S. National Science Foundation
OMG: U.S. Office of Management and Budget
OPD: Office of Proposal Development (at UNL)
OSP: Office of Sponsored Programs (at UNL)
OSTP: U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy
PHAB: Public Health Accreditation Board
PHI: Protected Health Information
PI: Principal Investigator
PII: Personal Identifying Information
QA: Quality Assurance
QI: Quality Improvement
RCT: Randomized Controlled Trial
RCR: Responsible Conduct of Research
RCS: Research Compliance Services
RDC: Research Data Center
RFP: Request for Proposals
SDOH: Social Determinants of Health
sIRB: Single Institutional Review Board
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
SROC: Scientific Research Oversight Committee
UAE: Unanticipated Adverse Effect
UNMC: University of Nebraska Medical Center
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
UX: User Experience