This document provides guidance on data, idea, backup, and project management for research. It recommends documenting all aspects of the research process, organizing files in a hanging folder system separated by project phases, and keeping all drafts. It also suggests capturing insights in an idea management system and making regular backups to prevent data loss. Finally, it advises planning research projects carefully with realistic deadlines, deliverables, and sufficient time for rewriting.

1. Data Management
Chi Yan Lam
Faculty of Ed., Queen’s University

2. What are we doing?
• Whatever you want to talk about!
• Thesis Box
• Idea Management
• Backup
• Project Management

3. To write is to think.
To think is to write.

5. Ideas Matter.
Don’t let the language get
in the way.

6. Data Management
• Document, document, document
– Keep a researcher’s log
• User a hanging folder method
– For each phase of the project
• Proposal, lit review (probably two/three major areas?)
ethics, Consent forms, Transcripts, examples
• Special folders for each type of your rsh data
• KEEP all drafts --- print them.
– Do the same for your digital files

7. Why?
• Research ethics --- safeguarding data
• For your own sanity
– Facilitate retrieval
– Demonstrating original work (esp. in the case of a
dispute)
• Research practices – transparency/replicability

8. Idea Management
• … about those serendipitous moments when
you have insights into your problem.
• Where/When -- watching TEDtalks? Going to
a guest lecture? Class? Reading a book?
Reading the lit?

9. Combinatorial Creativity
Synthesizing Mind

12. http://himecha.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/bwillen_post-its.jpg

13. Back-up Management
• Principles:
– Drives always fail!
– Make clones!
– Location matters
• Incremental backup
• Imaging

14. Project Management
Think about… Strategy…
• Deadlines • Budget twice the time
• (real) deadlines • Budget for re-writing and
• Deliverables re-drafting
• Lead time • Work in time blocks
– Pomodoro 25-5
• Wait-time
– Immerse youself

15. Logic-line Planning