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Data Management Plan Guides

What is FAIR Data?

The acronym "F.A.I.R." is used to describe qualities that research data can have which maximize how beneficial it can be for discoverability and reusability.

This acronym stands for:

F    Findable
A    Accessible
I     Interoperable
R   Reusable

More information about FAIR :

FAIR data principles (FORCE11 discussion forum)

FAIRPort Mobile Data Open Movement (datafairport.org)

The FAIR principles explained

This video explains the principles of FAIR, which helps you maximising your research output and impact, and enhancing your recognition as a researcher.

Source: Maastricht University 

FAIR Data

Data can be more findable by: properly describing what the data is; putting it in a permanent and easily searchable place; and making it easy for humans and computers to search for it.

Data can be more accessible by: using non proprietary, standardized and automated methods to supply the data to those who want or need it; letting others know how they can get the data; and letting others know if the data is no longer
available.

Not all data has to be made accessible. Data can be restricted and still be FAIR. As open as possible, as closed as necessary

Data can be more interoperable by: storing and providing the data in widely used and accessible file formats; describing the data using standard terms (vocabularies) that are relevant and widely known; and describing if it relates to other data and what exactly that relationship is.

Data can be more reusable by: making it clear how the data was collected or if there are validity concerns; making any conditions of reuse clear in license readable to humans and machines; and meeting the standards used within the relevant research community.