So, you’re all set to do your life-changing, earth-shattering research at the College of Information (INFO). Fantastic! You’ve got an idea. You’ve got a plan. Maybe you’ve even got a source of funding in your sights. Now what? Perhaps you’re midway through a project of tremendous brilliance when you’re invited to speak at a conference. Or you bump into a problem analyzing your data. Or you’re confronted with hours and hours of recordings to transcribe. How do you move forward?
This guide is for you! We have sought to provide answers to your basic questions about the ins and outs of research, and a point of contact to help you answer your more complex questions. This guide provides INFO-specific information and links to the Integrated Research Resources on Campus, with supplements to provide extra help with INFO processes and resources from beyond UMD. If you don’t find what you need, please let us know. We’re always looking to improve.
Browse by your Research Stage:
Start Your Research
Just getting started turning your great idea into a reality? These resources will help you develop a plan, build a team, find facilities, or get the training you need to get started.
- Develop and Evaluate a Research Idea
- Complying with Research Policies and Practices
- Institutional Review Board (IRB)
- IRB Training Information
- Human Subject Research Determination (HSRD)
- Integrity and Responsible Conduct in Research (IRC-R), formerly known as RCR
- IRB “(45 CFR 690.118)” Acknowledgment [118 Letter]
- IRB Review Paths
- IRB Consent Forms & Consent Waiver
- Conflict of Interest (COI) & Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI)
- Reliance Agreements (Authorization Agreements) and Individual Investigator Agreements
- IRB Best Practices
- IRB Reportable Events and Non-Compliance
- The Former IRB Process [IRBNet Only]
- Participant Incentive Information
- Honoraria at the INFO College
- Find a Laboratory, Instrument, or Facility
- UMD Laboratories and Facilities
- John and Stella Graves Makerspace
- Resources for NSF Write Up
- Resources for Accessibility Research
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Research
- Browse our Collection of Proposals to aid with Writing
- Plan for Data Collection and Management
- The Peer Review Process
- Recruiting External Reviewers for Peer Review
- How Much Reviewing is Enough?
- A Scorecard for Reviewing (Components and Metrics)
- Improve the Quality of Peer Review – The Role of Peer Review in Highly Selective Conferences
- Dealing with Paper Rejection
- Mistakes Reviewers Make
- Guidelines on Writing Good HCI/Visualization Papers
Fund Your Research
Bankrolling your project is never easy, but these resources should help. This section offers guidance as you search for funding sources and as you write your proposals.
- INFO Proposal Submission and Budgets
- Proposal help for a few key funding agencies
- Understanding Funding Opportunities
- Funding Opportunities
- Build your Project
- Develop your Proposal
- Plan for Data Management and IT Infrastructure
- Submit your Proposal
Manage Your Project
Resources for when you’re in the thick of it. We cover everything from data management assistance to the INFO College system for travel reimbursement.
- Designing Research Activities Work Plans and Schedules
- Acquire Equipment and Software
- Manage Your IRB Package
- INFO Reimbursement and Travel Processes
- Manage an Award
- DIT Resources for Data Management Plans
- Manage your Budget
- Get Data Management Assistance
- Hire student research assistants
Perform Your Research
Handy tools and resources to help you with the meat and potatoes of your research. Includes links to helpful data collection and management tools, university policies and procedures, and more.
- Acquire, Collect, or Generate Data
- Find a Laboratory, Instrument, or Facility
- Explore and Analyze data
- Print 3D Objects and Prototypes
Communicate and Disseminate Research
Now that your research is producing exciting results, you want to share them with as many people as possible. These resources will help you develop your manuscript, archive your research, host an event at the INFO College, and more.
Frequently Used Resources:
- Advice on Referring to People with Disabilities in Research
- Develop a Manuscript for Publication
- Share Your Research News
- Protect Intellectual Property
- Archive and Disseminate Data
- Increase Your Visibility
Close Your Project
Congratulations! Another successful research project is done! Don’t forget the final steps required to close your project with your funding source, disseminate your data, and more.
- Close Your IRB Package
- Close Subawards
- Archive and Disseminate Data
- Protect Intellectual Property