Data organization and record-keeping

Science without good record-keeping is really just smart people messing around with expensive equipment. Follow these practices to ensure high quality and organized data. 

All research data should be completely de-identified, with no personally-identifiable information used in any filenames. All participants should have a protocol number that indicates their position in the protocol  (their "subject ID"; e.g., 001) and numbers that link to their data (e.g., the number you put in eprime). THE LINK BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANT'S PERSONALLY-IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION AND THEIR DATA SHOULD BE KEPT IN A SINGLE, PASSWORD-PROTECTED FILE ON THE BOX DRIVE.

1. Hard copies of research-related forms
   1. This category includes consent forms, compensation forms, eligibility screening forms, data collection forms, and other hard-copy paper forms that are used during an experimental session. 
   2. These forms should be divided into two groups:
      1. Forms containing identifiable information: this includes consent forms, eligibility screening forms, and compensation forms. This should not have the subject's protocol number. 
      2. Forms not containing identifiable information: this includes anything that does not have identifiable information and instead only lists a subject ID.
   3. Each study should have one file folder for forms containing identifiable information and another file folder for forms that do not contain this information. The folder with the identifiable information should be stored in one locked file cabinet in 546F BEL. The other folder should be stored in the other locked file cabinet in 546F BEL.
   4. Do not leave these forms unattended in the lab. 
2. Data from the Deymed TMS device
   1. During hotspot determination and resting motor threshold, Deymed records EMG signals. 
   2. We typically do not save these records. 
3. Data from the Brainsight computer
   1. After completing an experimental session, save the BrainSight project to your study folder (located on the Brainsight computer Desktop). 
   2. The BrainSight project should then be moved to your personal study folder (located in UT Box). You can do this by logging into Box on the BrainSight folder and copy and pasting the file. 
4. fMRI Data
   1. fMRI data should be downloaded to your laptop and then moved to TACC (corral computer)

   2. Use terminal to copy the data to Corral: scp username@data.tacc.utexas.edu:/path/to/project/directory/filename \  /path/to/local/directory

5. Tips on organizing your data in UT Box
   1. Each person running experiments in the lab has their own UT Box folder under the FALCON_Lab master folder (/SMNP_Lab/personnel/NAME). 
   2. All work that you complete as part of your research duties in the FALCON lab should be in this folder.
   3. Each individual study should have its own folder with a clearly-labeled name (i.e., MemInt_Old, ProbInt, HippMep)
      1. Under each study folder, use the following subfolders:
         1. raw_data - all raw data goes here. Raw data should be further subdivided into additional folders, with one subfolder for each participant that has been tested
         2. scripts - all analysis scripts go here 
         3. writing - abstracts, manuscript drafts, and other writing-related items go here
         4. literature - relevant papers and other items related to your study go here 
         5. tasks - task files (in eprime or matlab) should go here
         6. protocol - blank IRB-approved consent forms, blank eligibility checklists, blank data collection sheets and other blank documents you need for your study should go here
         7. data_collection_sheets - I strongly recommend that you scan each participant's de-identified data collection sheet and save them here. This can be a lifesaver if you misplace a data collection sheet and encounter something strange about the data. 
         8. subject payment  - Files related to compensation
         9. processed data - Speaks for itself
         10. add any other subfolders you may find useful here!