| Research data management planning |
A Data Management Plan (DMP) describes how data is to be handled both during a research project, and after the project is completed. It is used to consider the many aspects of data management, metadata generation, data preservation, and analysis before the project begins; this may lead to data being well-managed in the present and prepare for preservation in the future. Although a DMP usually accompanies funding proposals and/or aplications for ethics approval, it should be updated as the project is executed.
Tools, such as the DMP Online of the Digital Curation Centre (DCC) allow for DMPs to be customised according to the requirements of UK funders. It also provides templates and sample plans for UK funders plans that can be downloaded. Templates for US funders can also be downloaded and the online DMPTool can be used to create a DMP for US funders.
| The HSRC Data Preservation and Sharing Plan that is mandatory when applying for ethics clearance, is a short version of a DMP that focusses specifically on issues, such as |
If a more comprehensive DMP has been prepared, it can be submitted in place of the HSRC Data Preservation and Sharing Plan.
Typically, a DMP will require information about the
• Project
• Documentation, organization, and storage
• Access, share, and re-use
• Preservation
The Digital Curation Centre (DCC) provides valuable guidance on all data management planning activities.
