There is no consensus on the definition of research data. It varies depending on disciplines and research funders. According to the German Research Foundation, research data might consist of measurement data, laboratory values, audiovisual information, texts, survey data, objects from collections, or samples that were created, developed or evaluated during scientific work. Methodical forms of testing such as questionnaires, software and simulations could also be categorized as research data (1).
In general, research data refer to data originated in the scientific work process and serve as the basis of every research activity (2).
Examples of research data in biomedicine (3):
- Data from basic research (e.g. sequencing or -omics data)
- Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
- Patient/disease registries (e.g. ENCePP Resources Database)
- Health surveys (e.g. National Cohort Study (NAKO))
- Clinical and health data (e.g. European Health Information Portal)
- Clinical trials registries and databases (e.g. German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS))
- Catalogue for population health data
- Thesauri, ontologies and classifications and codes of diseases or substances (e.g. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD))
Sources:
(1) Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. DFG Guidelines on the Handling of Research Data [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2023 Dec 15]. Available from: https://www.dfg.de/download/pdf/foerderung/grundlagen_dfg_foerderung/forschungsdaten/guidelines_research_data.pdf
(2) PUBLISSO. Research Data Management [Internet]. [cited 2023 Dec 15]. Available from: https://www.publisso.de/en/research-data-management
(3) Fürst J, Lindstädt B, Perrar I, Shutsko A, Vandendorpe J. NFDI4Health Online Training Workshop on Research Data Management in (Bio-)Medicine [Internet]. [cited 2023 Dec 15]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4126/FRL01-006452640