Text: Katja Fält

What Kind of Services FSD Provides for Humanists?

Data archiving and preservation

Data collected for research, such as interviews, surveys, photographs, data based on pre-existing material, and statistical data are unique cultural documents. Their archiving enables the preservation of valuable cultural heritage. It is therefore important that such research data are accessible and usable for future generations, also in digital format. Archiving research data constitutes academic credit for the researcher, as well.

Why archive data?

Archiving is the solution for you when you wish to securely preserve your research data, in accordance with the requirements set by many research funders, in an organisation specialising in long-term preservation. The FSD is one such organisation. By archiving your data for the use of the scientific community you will promote open science.

What does archiving require?

Research data to be archived should be saved as digital files and their content documented in sufficient detail. You will be asked to fill in both a dataset description form and a deposit agreement, which contain information on data creators, collection methods, and privacy issues.

Reuse of archived data

Reuse of archived data enables a varied use of data produced in different scientific disciplines.

How to use archived data?

As a data reuser you can benefit from data collected by others and save time and effort. You can browse and search archived data online in Aila Data Service. There are some datasets you can download without registration. In most cases, downloading requires registration with Aila.

What does reuse require?

Access to most datasets requires registration. Students and staff from Finnish universities can register themselves using HAKA authentication. By registering to Aila using HAKA credentials, users can download data as soon as they agree to the terms and conditions. Other users can apply for a username from FSD User Services.

Data Management Guidelines

The Data Management Guidelines provide instructions on how to manage digital research data throughout their lifecycle.

Why use the Guidelines?

In the Data Management Guidelines, you will find extensive and detailed instructions on planning and carrying out a study. In addition, the Guidelines instruct how to manage and handle research data in practice: for instance, how to name different file formats and how to solve questions relating to copyright and agreements.

How to use the Guidelines?

Data Management Guidelines are freely available for reading online.

Information services

The experts at the FSD are at your service by phone and email.

Why use the information services?

The FSD’s Information services provide assistance when you need help or advice with searching and using archived data. We warmly recommend asking for assistance also when you would like to use archived data for research, teaching or study purposes. We can provide help according to your needs in data management, secure preservation of data as well as ethical and legal issues, among others.

How to request information services?

Contact FSD User Services either by email asiakaspalvelu.fsd [at] uta.fi or by phone +358 29 452 0411. You can also ask for advice personally from one of our experts, whose contact details can be found on the FSD website at "staff".

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