Data Processing Software
As a researcher, you decide which software to use to process data. This page will guide you on how to choose good software to maximize openness and safety in your research.
Does your tool help you achieve reproducibility and open science?
In general, using an open-source software helps you to make your research open and reproducible. Using open-source tools, you can examine exactly how your data are processed in the code, and you can make your research accessible, reproducible, and freely available for other researchers across the world. Popular open-source tools include R and Python for general-purpose data processing, and Lime Survey, OpenSesame, and PsychoPy for data collection.
Saving your files in open formats
Whether you are using a proprietary or open-source tool, make sure to save your files in open, accessible, and sustainable formats. See DANS Preferred File Formats and UK Data Service Recommended Formats.
Is your tool safe for your data?
Some tools require sending your data to another server (e.g., audio transcription services requiring you to send a recording to cloud computers).
Are you uncertain whether the tool you need requires the data to be moved to another server? Then we recommend that you take the time to read the Terms of Service and try to be as informed as possible.
If the software you are using requires cloud services, it is worth checking whether its official documentation, such as Terms of Service or website, contain relevant information about how they process data. For example, Atlas.ti informs its users on their GDPR-compliance publicly. In order to be GPDR-compliant, it is important to make sure that the servers used are located within the European Union.However, it is not the case that researchers should rely only on the information of the various service providers. EUR has its own tool evaluation process and encourages the use of software listed in the Software Catalogue.
If you have specific questions about a particular tool, you can contact your faculty data steward or Kjeld Lam, Application Manager at EDIS.
How to access tools provided by EUR
On EUR-managed computers, you can use Software Center to install supported software. EUR IT also provides licenses for some software for self-managed computers. For more information, please see the Software page at the IT website.
A comprehensive list of approved tools is available from the Software Catalogue.
What if I want to use tools that are not provided by EUR?
Do you have a software not listed in the EUR Software Catalogue that you want to use? You can make a request to IT.
Aside from getting access to your software, you want to make sure that the software that you use complies with privacy and other regulations that you are adhering to. We recommend paying close attention to Terms of Service for each software, save them, and include them in your research archival package. You can describe this process in your data management plan.
Would you like to know more about how you can use tools effectively?
We regularly offer workshops and trainings related to research data management. Click on the button below for more information about the RDM Workshops.
This page was last updated in February 2023. Did you find a broken link? Did you see any incorrect information? Please send an email with the title 'Website content' to datasteward@eur.nl.