Data integrity is one of the most cardinal points of focus in the subject of research, as this tells on the validity of the research as well as the credibility of the researcher. This focuses on a few questions:
- Is the data genuine?
- Is the data accurate?
- Is the data reliable?
Data lifecycle comprises the sequence of stages it passes through, which include planning, collection, use, sharing and preservation. Ethical responsibility remains pertinent throughout the entire lifecycle.
Valid research data must be accessible for analysis by authorized users independently from the author for a long period of time, hence stressing the relevance of research data management. To avoid loss or corruption of sensitive information and maintain integrity, as well as to prevent privacy violations and security or legal risks, strong security measures should be taken to ensure that sensitive data is accessible only by authorized third parties. This is called data protection. Only information that is not sensitive should be open for the consumption of the general public.
There are, however, core ethical guidelines that must be strictly complied with in data management and storage:
- Be transparent about data collection and use.
- Ensure individuals give their consent before involving them as participants.
- Avoid discrimination in data collection.
- Ensure privacy and confidentiality regarding personal information, especially sensitive information.
- Ensure your data is precise, accurate, reliable, and consistent.
- Collect only necessary data and use them only for the original, clearly spelled out purpose.
Once research data is created, the next big thing is to ensure it is available for the future. Data storage must be done with optimum care. The use of local devices (like desktop hard drives and laptops) and portable drives for storage should be for temporary work only. For sensitive data, cloud storage is the best and safest means, and this also offers easy access, sharing, and backup.
Research data repositories are digital platforms for long-term data preservation, which ensure that data is accessible, re-usable, and reproducible. You could make use of open repositories, domain-specific repositories or institutional repositories.
Finally, reporting research data involves communicating information in clear and structured ways via text and corroborating this via visual aids (tables and figures). The following should be duly noted:
- Ensure your words are clear and simple.
- For corroboration, present your data visually using tables and figures (charts, graphs, maps and diagrams).
- Present your entire work in an organized manner (Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion and Conclusion).
- Ensure data is accurate and verifiable.
- Summarize major findings and give relevant recommendations.
At every stage in the data lifecycle, intentional systematic actions need to be taken in order to protect the subjects of research and also for the good of the researchers.