4 Approval & Data Management
Before you collect anything, settle what review your project needs and how your data will be stored, coded, and de-identified.
Before you move on
- You know whether your project counts as quality improvement or research under your institution's rules, and who makes that call.
- You have the approvals your program and site require, in writing.
- You've set up your data layout and codebook before collecting.
- You'll collect only the data you need, de-identified wherever possible.
- You know where the data will be stored and who can access it.
Rules about project review differ across institutions, and the decision usually belongs to a review board or a designated office, not to you or your advisor alone. Ask early, because the answer can change your timeline.
Setting up your data before you collect sounds like a small step. It prevents some of the most time-consuming problems at the analysis stage.