As with publishing, open access is also emphasised in the case of research data. Research data are very important for the possible validation of research, its repeatability, and data sharing also allows to reduce the cost of research or to speed it up.

Research data created or collected need to be properly described, recorded and, unless other circumstances prevent it, published in data repositories with metadata.

What are research data?

Research data can be characterised as any information that has been collected, observed, generated or produced for the purpose of verifying or reproducing research results. Research data can have different forms and they can be both digital and non-digital.

Some examples of research data:

• tables;
• documents,
• audio and video recordings;
• pictures, photos;
• questionnaires, answers to test questions, interview transcripts;
• software, scripts;
• laboratory journals, field notes, diaries;
• samples, specimens;
• artifacts.