Definition
Research data management is the organization, documentation, storage, and preservation of the data resulting from the research process, where data can be broadly defined as the outcome of experiments or observations that validate research findings, and can take a variety of forms including numerical output (quantitative data), qualitative data, documentation, images, audio, and video.
Further Resources
A brief introduction to the basic concepts of RDM for medical librarians:
Surkis, A., & Read, K. (2015). Research data management. Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 103(3), 154–156. https://doi.org/10.3163/1536-5050.103.3.011
An outline of RDM tools for researchers, including a rubric describing different levels of RDM practice for different aspects of the RDM process:
Borghi J, Abrams S, Lowenberg D, Simms S, Chodacki J (2018) Support Your Data: A Research Data Management Guide for Researchers. Research Ideas and Outcomes 4: e26439. https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.4.e26439
A short (~5 minutes) video demonstrating some of the major issues that arise in research data management:
Hanson, K.; Surkis, A.; Yacobucci, K. Data sharing and management snafu in 3 short acts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66oNv_DJuPc