Research Data Toolkit: Tools
Library Data Services
Library Data Services caters to researchers interested in working with data, mapping, texts, visualization, and technology. Many of these services are available online. Davis Library Data Services, located on the second floor of Davis Library, offers:
- A computing lab with specialized software for GIS and data visualization & analysis.
- Walk-in assistance provided by knowledgeable student consultants during set hours.
- Consultations with specialists for more in-depth inquiries (by appointment).
- Spaces for collaboration and presentation, complete with white boards and external displays.
- Technology short courses and programs that promote digital scholarship.
DMPTool
-
DMPTool - Login with your OnyenGuided system from the California Digital Library for creating data management plans, customized with UNC resources. Select UNC from the list of institutions and login with your Onyen to see resources specific to our campus. Walks you through requirements for specific funding agencies. Allows you to work in sequence or jump around, save drafts, and export text files.
Tools for Managing Data
-
CDART (Carolina Data Acquisition and Reporting Tool)CDART is a rigorous, web-based data collection tool developed, maintained and used by the UNC Collaborative Studies Coordinating Center (https://sites.cscc.unc.edu/cscc/). It is the Center's comprehensive research data management solution, providing fully-paperless data acquisition, industry-leading validation, simple extraction, and powerful reporting.
-
REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture)REDCap is a secure web application that can be used to build and manage case report forms, surveys and other data capture mechanisms for clinical research. REDCap is user-friendly; with a small amount of training, you can build your own forms and reports and manage your own study data. REDCap at UNC is managed by the North Carolina Translational & Clinical Sciences Institute (NC TraCS) (https://tracs.unc.edu).
Tools for Describing Data
Metadata is descriptive information about data, including such things as how the data were collected, by whom and for what purpose. Such information is vital to enable re-use. For more information, see our Metadata Tutorial.
-
Disciplinary MetadataMeta-site indexing metadata standards. Enables searching for a standard by discipline or format and includes profiles, tools to implement the standards and use cases of data repositories currently implementing them. The author, the Digital Curation Centre, is U.K.-based.
-
White paper: A Qualitative Data Model for DDIProduced by expert members of the international DDI Working Group on Qualitative Data following two dedicated DDI meetings in 2011 and 2012, this paper represents an inclusive and relational model for complex data collections arising from qualitative and mixed methods research..
Contact Us
For further assistance:
If you would like assistance creating your data management plan or did not find the agency information you needed here, please contact us at dataplan@listserv.unc.edu. We provide guidance and resource referrals to help UNC faculty, staff and students with data management and developing their data management plans.
UNC federally funded researchers, for in-depth review and assistance creating your data management plans in compliance with federal requirements, contact UNC's Research Data Management Core for assistance.