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Research Data Management

What is "Research Data" in Music?

In general, research data is "information that has been collected, observed, created, generated, or used in the course of original research (Jackson and Luyk, 2020). While one may think of it as statistics and numbers, music research data can appear in many forms.  As defined by Jackson and Luyk (2020), music research data can be considered as "any type of data used in research -- digital or analogue, including sounds, images, and texts."

To have a better understanding of what research data could arise or be involved in a music research, let's examine it closely by music disciplines.

Research Data in Different Music Areas

Examples of Music Research Data

What are some examples of research data in composition research?

(Drag the relevant research data to the image on the left and click “Submit." Then click “Check” to see the answers.)

What are some examples of research data in ethnomusicology research?

(Drag the relevant research data to the image on the left and click “Submit.” Then click “Check” to see the answers.)

What are some examples of research data in music education research?

(Drag the relevant research data to the image on the left and click “Submit.” Then click “Check” to see the answers.)

What are some examples of research data in music pyschology research?

(Drag the relevant research data to the image on the left and click “Submit.” Then click “Check” to see the answers.)

What are some examples of research data in music technology research?

(Drag the relevant research data to the image on the left and click “Submit.” Then click “Check” to see the answers.)

What are some examples of research data in music theory research?

(Drag the relevant research data to the image on the left and click “Submit.” Then click “Check” to see the answers.)

What are some examples of research data in performance practice research?

(Drag the relevant research data to the image on the left and click “Submit.” Then click “Check” to see the answers.)

What are some examples of research data in musicology research?

(Drag the relevant research data to the image on the left and click “Submit.” Then click “Check” to see the answers.)

Music Data Repository Options

Here are recommended options for general data deposit.

1. Institutional


2. National

This is a repository for humanities content.

Here are options for depositing notated music (and more).

Here are repository options for music and sound files.

Selection Criteria

When deciding on which data repository to use, consider the following:

  • What are the types of data and file formats it supports?  Any file size limitation?
  • Can users upload files directly?
  • Can users create streaming files from standing audio and video files?
  • Can users embed streaming and image files into other websites?
  • Can users add an embargo?
  • What is the preservation policy? 
  • Does it link research on common themes using linked open data? 
  • Does it provide quality metadata to support future discoverability?

Examples of Music DMPs

DMP templates are available for various disciplines on the DMP Assistant website, e.g. arts-based research

Some real-life DMPs are also shared publicly by their owners.  Below are two examples:

Location and contacts

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Music Library Staff
Contact:
Marvin Duchow Music Library
Elizabeth Wirth Music Building
3rd floor - 527 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1E3
514-398-4695
Website
Subjects: Music

Liaison Librarian

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Katie Lai
Contact:
Marvin Duchow Music Library
514-398-4695

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