ABSTRACT
This chapter categorizes common software approaches for research data collection and management, describes advantages and disadvantages of each, and provides a framework to help researchers optimally pair available software and human processes in the management of data for research. It focuses on selection of software available to investigators and research teams. Such software often includes institutionally supported systems specialized for research data management and research documentation in various disciplines, statistical software packages, institutionally licensed and low-cost relational or pseudorelational database management systems, and spreadsheets. Computers are commonly used for data processing tasks. Research settings provide special challenges to automation. Spreadsheets are readily available to most researchers; they are often already installed on computers as part of common office software packages, and most researchers have some experience with using them. The chapter introduces the concept of software functionality as actions or process steps performed or facilitated by software.
