Data Management and Sharing: Practices and Perceptions of Psychology Researchers

Research data is increasingly viewed as an important scholarly output.
While a growing body of studies have investigated researcher practices and
perceptions related to data sharing, information about data-related
practices throughout the research process (including data collection and
analysis) remains largely anecdotal. Building on our previous study of
data practices in neuroimaging research, we conducted a survey of data
management practices in the field of psychology. Our survey included
questions about the type(s) of data collected, the tools used for data
analysis, practices related to data organization, maintaining
documentation, backup procedures, and long-term archiving of research
materials. Our results demonstrate the complexity of managing and sharing
data in psychology. Data is collected in multifarious forms from human
participants, analyzed using a range of software tools, and archived in
formats that may become obsolete. As individuals, our participants
demonstrated relatively good data management practices, however they also
indicated that there was little standardization within their research
group. Participants generally indicated that they were willing to change
their current practices in light of new technologies, opportunities, or
requirements.