OCAD U Library 2018 Fall: Open Access

Tri-Agency Releases Draft Research Data Management Policy For Consultation

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), otherwise known as the Tri-Agency, have released a DRAFT Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy For Consultation. Institutions and professional organizations had until August 31st to provide their feedback. The following is a brief summary of what the draft policy says and what it means for OCAD University.
 

Artistic activity included in definition of data

The policy draft defines research data as, “data that are used as primary sources to support technical or scientific enquiry, research, scholarship, or artistic activity, and that are used as evidence in the research process or are commonly accepted in the research community as necessary to validate research findings and results.”
 

Data management plans encouraged (and in some cases required)

Researchers receiving Tri-Agency grants are encouraged to complete data management plans (DMPs) and for some grants may be required to complete DMPs. Portage’s DMP Assistant (https://portagenetwork.ca/) provides support for the development of DMPs.

Agency-supported researchers are required to deposit their data into a recognized digital repository

Grant recipients will be required to deposit all digital research data, metadata and code into a digital repository for safe storage, preservation, and curation. It further states that “whenever possible, these data, metadata and code should be linked to the publication with a persistent digital identifier” such as a DOI (https://www.doi.org/).

Grant recipients are encouraged to provide access to their data where possible

The policy draft encourages researchers to provide access to their data “where ethical, legal, and commercial requirements allow” and in accordance with disciplinary standards. One platform for storing, preserving, and sharing data is the Scholars Portal Dataverse platform (https://dataverse.scholarsportal.info/). Datasets can also be deposited in OCAD University’s Open Research Repository.

Institutions will develop Research Data Management strategies to support researchers

OCAD University will join other institutions across Canada to develop a Research Data Management strategy that demonstrates support and guidance for researchers, communicates the importance of research data management, and provides digital repository services. The Library, IT Services, and Research Services are already developing a Research Data Management policy and will be consulting with various stakeholders in the coming months to shepherd it through the approval process.

The policy draft can be accessed on the Science.gc.ca website: http://www.science.gc.ca/eic/site/063.nsf/eng/h_97610.html. For more information on best practices with respect to research data, visit our Research Data Management Library guide: