Managing Your Research Data and Documentation

In the behavioral sciences today, there is increasing emphasis on transparency, and the need for research studies to be made replicable.

In this book, Kathy R. Berenson presents a straightforward approach to managing and documenting one's data so that other researchers can repeat the study.

While data management may seem intimidating to new researchers, this guide shows how easy it can (and should) be. The first chapter presents a basic structure of folders and subfolders for organizing data files, and then each subsequent chapter delves into details for a specific folder.

Step by step, readers learn to label and archive different kinds of project documents and data files, including original, processed, and working data. Readers also learn to write command codes showing exactly how the original data are analyzed.

Examples illustrate how to document the most common types of research, and since major research funders now require recipients to meet strict data handling standards, this resource will foster a vital career skill for students.

Series Foreword

Preface

1. Introduction
2. Your Project Files
3. Your Data Files
4. Your Command Files
5. Your Replication Documentation

• Appendix A. Source Data and Metadata
• Appendix B. Working With "Tall" Data Files
• Appendix C. Data Entry
• Appendix D. Labeling and Renaming Many Variables Efficiently
• Appendix E. Importing Data Files
• Appendix F. Merging Data Files
• Appendix G. Estimating Missing Values

References

Index

About the Author

About the Series Editor

Kathy R. Berenson, PhD, is an assistant professor of psychology at Gettysburg College and a clinical psychologist who conducts research focused on cognitive/affective and interpersonal factors in psychological difficulties. She has many years of experience managing data for large, grant-funded studies and mentoring undergraduate research in the fields of personality and psychopathology.

• Choice Outstanding Academic Title