Gather Data

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The term data can refer to many things, including writings, films, sound recordings, pictorial reproductions, drawings, designs, or other graphic representations, procedural manuals, forms, diagrams, workflow charts, equipment descriptions, data files, statistical records, and other research data. This section discusses tools that will help you collect and store research data, including data collection tools, core facilities that process research samples, data storage options, and consultation services. See the featured resources below for examples.

Featured resources

• Equipment, Services, and Training: The Research Cores Directory can help you find facilities that can find equipment, technologies, services, and training to gather samples and turn your research samples into data.
• Collecting data: Collect survey data using Qualtrics Survey Hosting Service. Need help with Study design and implementation? Contact the Survey Center. If you need help transcribing audio/video files, see how IRB and DoIT’s approved/pre-vetted transcription services compare. And if you are traveling for your data collection, the Division of Business Services can help you plan your trip and your reimbursement.
• Finding data: Research Data Services (RDS) consultants can help you navigate the research data storage landscape at UW-Madison, give advice on data organization, and help with many other topics. The RDS website includes a list of national, non-profit, local, and search engine resources for finding research data. Both RDS Consultants and your subject librarians are available to assist with finding datasets. The Libraries also provide access to the Clarivate Web of Science Data Set and Gale Digital Scholar Lab. The Wisconsin Research Data Center (WiscRDC)  is another campus resource and is part of the Census Bureau’s Federal Statistical Research Data Center network. Projects using WiscRDC data must first be approved by the WiscRDC.
• Storing data: The UW-Madison Data Storage Finder  on the RDS website can help you identify the best campus storage solutions for your research data. Research Drive also provides 5 TB of storage for research PIs at no cost, with additional storage available for purchase.
• Sharing data collaboratively: The Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) service provides access to the LabArchives ELN platform to research groups at no cost. This service allows researchers to store their data and research notes together and easily share them with collaborators. In any project, if you are sharing sensitive data or sharing data with external sources, Data Transfer and Use Agreements (DTUAs) typically need to be reviewed and signed by someone with campus signatory authority. If you’re not sure where to get started with this, RDS can help you review the requirements in the DTUA, connect you to the appropriate campus resources, and connect you to the IT support you’ll need.