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Safeguarding Research Data

Preferred Tools

The safest, most secure way to collect, create, work with and save your research data is by using College Enterprise tools whenever possible.  Third party tools can be convenient, user-friendly and free - but may have inadequate privacy policies and security standards - which could mean that your project is not in compliance with REB, College and/or Canadian privacy / information security requirements. 

 

Files / Data

 

The College SharePoint platform has two main instances that are ideal for storing, managing and sharing data:
 

  • OneDrive - Create, manage and save a wide range of file types including image files, videos and everything created using a Microsoft tool, e.g., word documents, excel files, access databases etc. 
     
    • Best for: individual researchers who do not need to provide access to their working files to other team-members.
       
  • Teams: As with OneDrive you can create, manage and save a wide range of file types.  
     
    • Best for: research conducted in groups - including groups with external members. 
       
    • See the Teams Groups Box  on the Managing Data with Colleagues page of this guide for more information about creating Teams groups and managing/access controlling files in a group research context.

 

Surveys

 

Qualtrics:  Build your surveys and manage the responses using Qualtrics.  Unlike typical 3rd party/open access survey tools, Qualtrics complies with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) as the survey data is securely stored and backed up on Canadian hosted servers.

 

Qualitative Research Analysis

 

NVivo: The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) has laptops with NViVO software available for researchers to borrow.
 

  • DC faculty / staff researchers should email research@douglascollege.ca, with the subject line: "Borrow NViVO Laptop" to initiate their request.
     
  • Upon return, all files on the laptop will be permanently deleted by the IT department.