Haskins Laboratories NSF Data Management / NIH Data Sharing Plan (DMP/DSP)

Haskins Laboratories supports the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of Health (NIH) policies to share, at no more than incidental expense and within a reasonable time frame, the primary data gathered in the course of work funded by NSF and NIH grants. The Laboratories will provide access to the final form of research data that is acquired in its experiments or those done in conjunction with other research groups. To the degree possible, this data will be made available by no later than the publication of the main findings from the final data set collected. The nature of the access to this data will depend upon both the size of the final data set and to any relevant privacy and confidentiality concerns. Access to this data is also subject to other conditions detailed in the DMP/DSP.

Haskins Data

Research at Haskins Laboratories covers a broad range of studies related to areas such as speech, reading, signing, the physiology of speech production, the aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and acoustics of speech production, motor behavior, and neuroimaging. Data gathered during experiments include the results of behavioral tests, acoustic recordings, responses to perceptual experiments such as word/sound identification, reaction time measurements, tracking of speech articulator, eye movement and limb motion data, various neuroimaging methodologies, including EEG, NIRS, fMRI, etc., a range of vocal tract imaging techniques and technologies, including ultrasound, MRI, EMA, EGG, Optotrak, Rothenberg mask, etc., and computational and physical simulations of human and related activities. Participants cover the lifespan from infants to seniors. In addition to participant responses and measurements made of their behavior or other activity, including simulation results, data sets that will be made available will also include relevant metadata, such as experimental protocols, demographic data, descriptions of equipment used, stimulus lists, signal characteristics (such as sampling rate and resolution), etc. Also, where feasible, computer code, relevant algorithms, and/or descriptions of simulations, statistical and other analyses and special data gathering and processing techniques, etc. will be made available. Smaller data sets that are free of identifiers that would permit linkages to individual research participants and have no special privacy and confidentiality requirements, or limitations imposed by partner institutions (see Limitations of the Data Sharing plan, below) may be made available online on Haskins fileservers. See below (Access to Haskins Data) for information related to requesting access to Haskins data.  Since certain datasets, such as fMRI data, video data, physiological records, etc., are relatively large, we presently employ an internal archiving system using CDs and/or DVDs or magnetic tape for long-term storage. Reasonable requests for copies of these data sets can thus be accommodated by providing duplicate copies of the media and will include any additional high-level information about the experimental protocol necessary for another laboratory to utilize the data. Data is backed up on a regular basis. Offsite storage is also used for added security and long-term data retention.

Access to Haskins Data

Information regarding the Haskins Data Management Plan will be posted in a prominent location on the Haskins Laboratories website. Requests for access to online data or to request distribution media can be made to Haskins’ Office Manager Tammy Ursini or by contacting any of the PIs of the relevant grants, who will forward the request to the Experiment Coordinator. In order to protect privacy and confidentiality to the greatest degree, all requestors will be required to acknowledge their receipt of and agreement to the Haskins Data Management plan. This will also allow the Laboratories to track data should problems arise from its release. Haskins may charge reasonable handling fees to cover the costs of media and postage. Haskins Laboratories, and its affiliated researchers, request appropriate acknowledgement for publication or other use of Haskins data.

Limitations of the Data Management Plan and restrictions to data access

The NSF and the NIH recognize that data sharing may be complicated or limited, in some cases, by institutional policies, local IRB rules, as well as local, state and Federal laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Haskins Laboratories respects the rights and privacy of individuals who participate in research and will also respect all institutional policies, local IRB rules, as well as local, state and Federal laws and regulations of all partner institutions engaged in research. Haskins Laboratories encourages sharing of software and inventions, and recognizes intellectual property rights; however, access to data will only be provided if such access is not in conflict with these or other relevant policies, as, for example, conditions under which restricting the release of privileged or proprietary information would be appropriate. Haskins Laboratories reserves the right to limit re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivative products related to Haskins data. Haskins Laboratories data may not be shared without the permission of Haskins Laboratories. Haskins Laboratories assumes no liability for the use of Haskins data or related material. In providing such material to other researchers, we expect that the materials will be used for scientific purposes. Commercial development is not covered by this DMP/DSP.

Changes in, and Questions About, the Data Management Plan

A description of the full NSF and NIH policies related to data management can be found in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), Chapter II.C.2.j and the NIH Data Sharing Policy and Implementation Guidance. If necessary the Laboratories will work with the grantor program staff to ensure the appropriateness and adequacy of the revised Data Management Plan. Questions about the Haskins Data Management Plan, including requests for re-use, re-distribution, and the creation of derivative products, can be referred to Haskins’ CFO Joseph Cardone.