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							<p>Before undertaking any formal work on your project, it is important to give careful thought to how you are going to keep track of and store your work and <glossary placement="right" content='Throughout this course, we use the term "data" to refer broadly to the information researchers collect: their findings. If your field does not generally talk in terms of research data, apply whatever term fits best when you review the content of this module.'>data</glossary>. To accomplish this, you need to create and maintain a <glossary placement="right" content='A secure, lasting, step-by-step account of work undertaken, findings and observations.'>research record</glossary>.</p>
							<p>The need for a research record is widely known and generally taught as a part of research training. You may find that your institution has invested in software or other tools (e.g. data archiving systems, bibliography management utilities) that can assist you with keeping a research record.</p>
														
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										<p>Poor record-keeping frequently surfaces in misconduct investigations. A gene therapy paper published in <em>PNAS</em> had to be retracted due to falsified data; however, when the university tried to discover who had falsified the data they could not because of the limitations of the research record. You can read more about the case <a href="https://retractionwatch.com/2018/02/26/florida-investigation-cant-id-culprit-who-falsified-data-in-retracted-pnas-paper/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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							<h3>Purpose of a research record</h3>
							
							<p>Researchers keep records in different ways and for different purposes, depending on their field and the nature of their studies.</p>
							
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							<instructional-text><p>Choose your discipline area from the menu below to watch interviews where researchers discuss how they keep records of their research.</p></instructional-text>
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>Choose your discipline area from the menu below to watch interviews where researchers discuss how they keep records of their research.</p></instructional-text-accessible>

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							<p>While there are different reasons for keeping a research record, they serve four purposes overall:</p>
							
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									<li>For <strong>self-reference</strong> as you refine, interpret and publish your work</li>
									<li>To <strong>provide information</strong> to colleagues who want to replicate or further investigate your work</li>
									<li>To <strong>provide evidence</strong> of what you did should your work be challenged</li>
									<li>To <strong>support formal intellectual property claims</strong>, such as patents and other forms of commercialisation.</li>
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							<p>To meet these objectives, a research record must be lasting as well as secure. If someone challenges a finding, you must be able to support it. If your record is not detailed enough to allow someone else to conduct the same research, you are not keeping a proper research record.</p>
							
							<h3>Support for good record-keeping</h3>
							
							<p>Given the importance of keeping a proper research record, why would any researcher fail to meet this standard as a matter of course? Often, a lack of training is the issue. There are various resources available to researchers with concerns or questions about record-keeping, many of which can be accessed via their institution.</p>
							
							<instructional-text><p>Consider each of the statements in the poll below. Choose the option that most closely reflects your level of agreement or disagreement, then click "Vote" to register your response and see how others have responded.</p></instructional-text>
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>Consider each of the statements and choose the option that most closely reflects your level of agreement or disagreement.</p></instructional-text-accessible>
							
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								<h4>Question 1 of 4:</h4>
								<p>I have received training on the proper way to create and store a record of my research.</p>
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									<li>Strongly agree</li>
									<li>Agree</li>
									<li>Neutral</li>
									<li>Disagree</li>
									<li>Strongly disagree</li>
									<li>No opinion</li>
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								<h4>Question 2 of 4:</h4>
								<p>My department or institution emphasises the importance of keeping a proper research record.</p>
								<ul>
									<li>Strongly agree</li>
									<li>Agree</li>
									<li>Neutral</li>
									<li>Disagree</li>
									<li>Strongly disagree</li>
									<li>No opinion</li>
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								<h4>Question 3 of 4:</h4>
								<p>My department or institution provides the resources and support I need to keep a proper research record.</p>
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									<li>Strongly agree</li>
									<li>Agree</li>
									<li>Neutral</li>
									<li>Disagree</li>
									<li>Strongly disagree</li>
									<li>No opinion</li>
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								<h4>Question 4 of 4:</h4>
								<p>I am personally motivated to keep a detailed record of my research.</p>
								<ul>
									<li>Strongly agree</li>
									<li>Agree</li>
									<li>Neutral</li>
									<li>Disagree</li>
									<li>Strongly disagree</li>
									<li>No opinion</li>
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							<p>You will need training to learn the proper practices for your field of study. You also need to have access to the resources necessary to store electronic records.</p>
							
							<h3>Summary</h3>
							
							<p>Good record-keeping is an essential part of research. Even if there is no widely accepted guidance within your research area, the responsibility is still on you to keep a complete record of your research. Some new researchers underestimate just how careful they need to be when keeping a research record, which is why it is important to be vigilant at every stage &ndash; your research record could prove invaluable if you are faced with questions years after you have finished your research.</p>

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