University of Tasmania, Australia

Section 2: Management of Research Data and Primary Materials

Cross References:

• Section 2 of the Australian Code
• Records Management Policy
• Records Management Guidelines
• Management of Research Data Policy
• Management of Research Data Procedures

Section 2 of the Code provides guidance on the ownership of research materials and data, their storage, their retention and disposal, and the appropriate access to them by the research community. The Australian Code Steering Committee is currently developing the Management of Research Data Policy and Procedures based on the requirements outlined in this section of the Code. This policy and procedure will be completed by the beginning of 2013.

The University will:

1. Promote awareness of its policies and procedures relating to the ownership, storage, retention and disposal of, and access to, research data and primary material
2. Ensure that facilities are provided for the safe and secure storage of research data and that records are maintained to indicate where research data are stored

Responsibilities of researchers affiliated with the University of Tasmania

The responsible conduct of research includes the proper management and retention of research data. The Code indicates that ‘…sufficient materials and data [must be] retained to justify the outcomes of the research and to defend them if they are challenged.’ As such, researchers are expected to:

1. Retain research data and primary materials in accordance with University policies and procedures, ethical protocols, professional standards, legal requirements and contractual standards
2. Keep clear and accurate records
3. Ensure research data and primary materials are retained for sufficient time to allow reference to them by other researchers and interested parties
4. Retain research data in a durable, indexed and retrievable form and maintain a catalogue of the research data in an accessible form
5. Make research data available for use by other researchers unless prevented by ethical, privacy or confidentiality matters
6. Maintain confidentiality of research data and primary materials