Exercise 2
Read through the following scenarios. How would you proceed to prevent data loss in advance? What measures could you take in an emergency?
Szenario 1
You are in the intensive research phase of your project. You conduct informal conversations and interviews in the field daily and make many participant observations. Since you always immediately record your notes digitally on your computer, you sometimes accidentally delete or overwrite files that you initially saved quickly and unstructured on your desktop.
Szenario 2
Near the end of your data collection phase, just before entering the intensive analysis and writing phase of your master’s thesis, your worst fear comes true: Your computer no longer starts, and you have no access to your hard drive.
Szenario 3
You are working on a research project related to a topic you studied years ago with a different research focus. You realize that the data you collected years ago might be useful for comparison in your current work. However, you have since switched to a new computer. The operating system and software from your old device are outdated, and you can no longer open your old files.
Szenario 1:
Prevention
At the beginning of your research project, establish a structured data management system, including folder naming conventions. Always save everything first on your PC and then create a backup on an external storage device. Double storage does not take much extra time but ensures security.
Emergency Measures
If data is lost, try to recover files using a professional data recovery service.
Szenario 2:
Prevention
Always create regular backups on an encrypted external storage device so that, if necessary, you can access all your data from another device.
Emergency Measures
Contact a professional data recovery service to check whether access to the hard drive is still possible from another device.
Szenario 3:
Prevention
Regularly create backups on an encrypted external storage device. This often ensures that file formats are converted into newer formats over time. Always use open and compatible file formats whenever possible.
Emergency Measures
Search for a program or online service that allows you to convert files from one format to another. Carefully review the privacy policies and terms of use before using free online services, as some should be used with caution. It is often unclear who operates these services and who has access to your data. Alternatively, look for a local service provider in your area that offers file conversion services.