Research data, unlike other types of information, is collected, observed, or created, for purposes of analysis to produce original research results http://www.ed.ac.uk/is/data-management
Research data management is the process of controlling the information generated during a research project. Any research will require some level of data management, and funding agencies are increasingly requiring scholars to plan and execute good data management practices. Managing data is an integral part of the research process. It can be challenging particularly when studies involve several researchers and/or when studies are conducted from multiple locations. How data is managed depends on the types of data involved, how data is collected and stored, and how it is used – throughout the research lifecycle. https://tinyurl.com/v6yferx