Request support

Please submit a data and research request form to inquire about support. A team member will follow up within 48 hours to schedule a consultation meeting. General questions can be directed to: our-data@duke.edu.

Data and research request form

The Research and Data (RAD) team in the Office of the University Registrar offers support to faculty and staff with studies of teaching and learning, especially when using institutional data. Examples of these support services include but are not limited to the following:

  • Survey design or creation: Assistance with developing or programming a survey instrument (e.g., Qualtrics, Kuali).
  • Survey or methodology consultation: Consultation on an existing survey design, question wording, or research methodology.
  • Survey sampling or participant recruitment: Help identifying or drawing a study population for survey distribution.
  • Consent process support: Guidance or management of the informed‑consent process (e.g., drafting consent language, obtaining approval).
  • Honest broker services: De‑identification or secure release of data by a neutral party in compliance with FERPA and data governance policies.
  • Data storage: Data management on secure protected network drive.
  • IRB submission support: Guidance preparing sections of Institutional Review Board documentation. If appropriate, template protocols are available for abbreviated review.

Once you have submitted a data request form, a member of our team will be in touch within 48 hours to schedule a consultation meeting. During this meeting, we will discuss your project goals and gather details about your data and research needs, including:

  • Deliverables: The specific outputs or support you are requesting.
  • Proposed Timelines: Expected dates or deadlines for project activities.
  • Data Requirements: The data elements, sources, or cohorts needed for the project.
  • Roles and Responsibilities: Expectations for both the researcher(s) and the RAD team.

Following the meeting, you'll receive a follow-up email summarizing the discussion and next steps to confirm the project scope and requirements. Once the details are confirmed, our team will proceed with the requested work according to the agreed-upon plan and timeline.

What is an honest broker?

An honest broker is a neutral third party who is independent of the research team. This individual or system has legitimate access to research data or records through their organizational role and is responsible for obtaining and de-identifying such materials before providing them to investigators. The use of an honest broker and the specific data request must be approved by the IRB before any data can be shared.

An honest broker is not part of the research team. The honest broker cannot be one of the investigators, study coordinators, or statisticians on the study, and cannot serve as a co-author on any related publication.

Do I have to use the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) as an honest broker?

Yes, whether your study involves data from University records or not, any requests for honest broker services should go through the Research and Data team in OUR, as this is now a standardized service offered to all researchers at Duke via agreement between Office of the University Registrar, Campus Institutional Review Board, and the Office for Research & Innovation.

To support the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, the OUR-RAD team has partnered with Campus IRB to offer SoTL IRB protocol templates with prefilled sections for abbreviated review. NOTE: SoTL template protocols must be submitted to IRB by the OUR-RAD team, after a consultation with the researcher.

  • For studies that only use course data:
  • For studies using institutional data from the University Registrar (beyond course data):

 

The OUR Research and Data Team frequently collaborates with other university offices to ensure that research projects are supported responsibly, efficiently, and in compliance with institutional policies.

Office for Research & Innovation (OR&I)

The Office for Research and Innovation supports the development, promotion, and application of Duke's intellectual property and our world-renowned researchers, students, and facilities. OR&I consists of a network of specialized support offices providing consultations, training and resources.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) 

If your project involves human subjects data or any information that could be considered sensitive, you will need to consult with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) before data collection or analysis begins. The IRB ensures that all research activities comply with ethical standards and federal regulations. The OUR Research and Data Team can help you determine whether your project requires IRB review and guide you through the submission process, if applicable.

myRESEARCHnavigators

If you have questions about how to navigate the next steps in your process, a myRESEARCHnavigator can help. This team, a support service of OR&I, ensures that researchers are knowledgeable about relevant resources, collaborators, processes, and best practices for performing research at Duke. The staff have a variety of backgrounds: biochemistry, genetics, data science, public health, animal research, engineering, social science, and scientific integrity.
 

Collaboration with Data-Holding Offices

For projects that require access to data owned or maintained by other university units—such as the Office of Institutional Research, Student Affairs, or Faculty Affairs—the OUR Research and Data team will coordinate with these offices to confirm data ownership, sharing protocols, and access permissions.

Research Analytics and Presentation Support

If your work requires additional expertise in data analysis, visualization, or presentation of research findings, you are encouraged to engage with one of the following campus partners:

Together, these partners form a comprehensive network of research support across the university. Depending on your project’s scope and needs, the OUR Research and Data team may facilitate introductions or collaborative efforts to ensure you receive the specialized assistance necessary for successful project completion.