If I’m making my data available with a paper or another repository do I still need to complete records in Research Data JCU?

The three records in Research Data JCU  (i.e. the RDMP, archival Data Record and Data Publication) are required to provide JCU with the information needed to effectively manage research (data and information) assets throughout their lifecycle. This information includes details about what the data is, where it is stored, how long it needs to be kept, and how the data can be shared.

Journals on the other hand, often use supplementary data, links to datasets in Dryad, Figshare or Zenodo, or require deposition in discipline-specific repositories such as NCBI to make data available.

Here is some specific guidance with respect to the records in Research Data JCU:

Research Data Management Plan (RDMP): You are required to start an RDMP early in the project and then refine it as needed. This “registers” your project and ensures you meet compliance requirements (e.g.,  from the JCU Code,  ethics, and funders) and enables the effective management of data assets as above.

Data Record: It is highly likely that your project generated additional data (and supporting documentation) required to support the validity and integrity of your research findings. Completing a Data Record meets the requirements of the Code (Responsibility 22) and helps you keep track of data generated by your HDR candidates/students, as well as your own data.

Please complete a Data Record or seek an exemption by emailing researchdata@jcu.edu.au if you did not generate any data required for validation. Refer to our information sheet Identifying data for archiving in Research Data JCU for further guidance.

Data Publication:  Should you publish additional data via Research Data JCU  (we can mint DOIs and organise embargoes and anonymous peer review links) you can link to datasets held elsewhere and related papers, as well as uploading datasets. This ties your outputs together, increases their visibility and opens up opportunities for citation and re-use.

You can also create Data Publications that link only to datasets held elsewhere. Here are a couple of  examples:

• Data is on Dryad and Zenodo - Yan, Helen; Bellwood, David (2023): Multi-decadal stability of fish productivity despite increasing coral reef degradation. [Data set] James Cook University.
• Data is on NCBI - Gainsford, Ashton; Heindler, Franz Maximillian; van Herwerden, Lynne (2021): Cytochrome b sequences isolated from Amphiprion spp. [Data set] James Cook University.

Your Data Publications (metadata) are harvested by Research Data Australia, Google Dataset Search and other services as well as JCU’s Researcher Portfolio so this is a great way to promote your work.

Please email researchdata@jcu.edu.au if you need assistance  creating these records - we are always happy to help.