You should choose file formats based on how easy they are to process, reproduce and reuse. If this isn't feasible during the research process, the files should be converted at the end of the project into a format that ensures the data are preserved for the long term. Our guide offers a general overview of common file formats and their suitability for long-term preservation.

Collecting and analyzing data is an integral part of research. We recommend looking into data storage options right at the beginning of your project to prevent data loss or manipulation further down the line. Where the data are stored (notebook, external hard drive, USB stick, the cloud, etc.) depends on the data themselves (the data volume, common data management, etc.). It's important that you frequently back up your data onto a separate storage device.