Research Guides: Research Data Management: Data Management Plans

Learn about DMPs

A data management plan or DMP is a document that outlines how you will handle your data both during your research and after the project is completed.The goal of a data management plan is to consider the many aspects of data management, metadata generation and data preservation. A successful DMP should be completed before the project begins in order to ensure that data are well-managed during the research process as well as for preservation of the data for future use.

Each project will be different and have different types of data. Remember that a data management plan is a living document and should be reviewed and updated regularly, especially if unforeseen data are collected.

The recommended structure for a data management plan is as follows:

Project description
Survey of existing data
Data to be created
1. Data organization methods (optional)
Data administration issues
1. Funding and legislative requirements
2. Data owners and stakeholders
3. Access and security
4. Backups
Data sharing and archiving
Responsibilities
Budget

There are many questions to consider when creating a data management plan. The following list can help you to begin thinking about how you will manage your data and the answers will be useful for developing the content of a data management plan.

Data Production	What type(s) of data will be produced? What file format(s) will the data be saved as? Are those file formats proprietary? Will they degrade over time? Will the data be reproducible? Do you need tools or software to create, process, or visualize the data?
Data Size	How much data will be generated, and at what growth rate? How often will it change?
Data Usage	Who will potentially be using your data both now and later?
Data Retention	How long should it be retained? (e.g., 3-5 years, 10-20 years, permanently). Does your institution have a data retention policy?
Privacy and Security	Any special privacy or security requirements? (e.g., personal data, high-security data)
Data Sharing	Any sharing requirements? (e.g., funder data sharing policy) Have you chosen a repository in which to archive your data?
Data Management Plan	Does your funding agency require a data management plan in the grant proposal?
Data Documentation	How will you be documenting your data and project? What directory and file naming convention will be used? What project and data identifiers will be assigned? Is there a schema, ontological, or other metadata standard in your field for sharing data with others?
Storage and Backup	What are the strategies for storage and backup of the data? Are you aware of any institutional support backups?
Publication	When and where will the work be published?
Responsibility	Who in the research group will be responsible for data management? Who controls the data (principal investigator, student, lab, funder)?

A selection of sites from organizations which offer information related to data management plans.

DMP Tool

DMP Tool
The DMP Tool is a service that will help you create a data management plan according to your needs. You will need to create an account on the site to use the step-by-step guide. It supports data management plans and funder requirements across the disciplines, including the humanities and physical, medical, and social sciences, and includes multiple agency requirements. Users of the DMPTool can view sample plans, preview funder requirements, and view the latest changes to their plans. The tool also permits the user to create an editable document for submission to a funding agency, and can accommodate different versions as funding requirements change.

Research Data Management

Learn about DMPs

DMP Tool

DMP Tool Blog