VerbundFDB

The Verbund Forschungsdaten Bildung (VerbundFDB, Alliance for Research Data in Education) is the counterpart for educational research data and management. Its major task is to archive research data and its survey instruments and to provide access for the academic community.

Target Group

Empirical educational researchers (data depositors, data users, researchers looking for information on research data management)

Objectives

Empirical educational studies are characterized by their multidisciplinary nature, and their research data output has been remarkable. Consequently, there is a growing need for services of archiving, documenting, and sharing data. In order to support researchers in producing high-quality data and conducting excellent research the VerbundFDB aims to build and establish a powerful data infrastructure. Existing data centers in Germany with services for educational studies are highly specialized on different kinds of data and scientific disciplines. An infrastructure is thus required that integrates existing data center services, strengthens harmonization, exploits synergies, and delivers user-friendly services. The VerbundFDB supports a vision of Open Data, that respects the privacy and ethical rights of study participants and first user rights of data producers.

Theme Focus

Building a research data infrastructure for educational research in Germany

Activities

The alliance provides services in archiving and distributing research data and documenting research studies. Additionally, it builds the conceptual foundations for the long-term development of an integrated research data infrastructure for educational studies and addresses open infrastructural issues, e.g. appraisal and selection of research data, acquisition of research data, calculating data management costs, or developing advanced archiving service levels. Within this process, it is essential to communicate with the scientific communities and maintain strong partnerships within the research data center community.