Datamaterialetc

Datamaterialetc is a term used in information science and research governance to describe the combined category of data, materials, and other related resources associated with a research project. The phrase functions as a catch-all for digital objects and tangible materials whose creation, use, and preservation are relevant to replicating or extending study results. It includes datasets and their derivatives, physical samples or specimens, lab notebooks, experimental protocols, software, code, documentation, licenses, and access or usage terms, as well as metadata and provenance records.

In practice, datamaterialetc is used to frame data management plans and repository policies to ensure that not only data but also the accompanying materials are curated and accessible. It is commonly invoked in discussions of reproducibility, research integrity, and long-term preservation, helping institutions allocate resources for archiving and define access rights for a broad range of objects.

Criticism notes that the term can be vague and discipline-dependent, since what counts as "materials" varies by field. Some analysts argue that narrower, more precise categorization improves clarity for researchers and funders. In policy contexts, it often coexists with or subsumes concepts such as research objects, data stewardship, and data provenance.

See also: research data management, data management plan, research object, metadata, reproducibility, data governance.