Why Research Data Planning?
Effective planning is crucial for managing research data. It serves as the foundation for all decisions regarding data management throughout the research project lifecycle. The purpose of the data management plan (DMP) is to ensure that the data are of high quality, secure, shareable, and ethically managed.
Purpose and Scope
Data management plans (DMPs) are living documents that detail the strategies and resources for managing data, including collection, organization, storage, sharing, archiving, and compliance with institutional, funding agency, and legal requirements.
- Data Collection
- Describe what data will be produced, in what formats, and using which methods and technologies
- Indicate collection platforms, data volume (MB/GB/TB), and any software or tools involved in data generation
- Include protocols for recording and quality assurance
- Documentation and Metadata
- List documentation elements such as README files, code books, and/or data dictionaries
- Describe metadata standards that are employed to describe data (ex: Dublin Core, PREMIS, METS, etc)
- Storage and Backup
- Detail active storage locations, backup routines, and anticipated storage space needs
- Describe contingency planning for data loss or corruption
- Preservation and Archiving
- Outline long-term preservation strategies, including formats suitable for archiving, migration plans, and criteria for selecting data for retention.
- Will the data be stored in an institutional repository (Borealis) or a third-party depository (FRDR)?
- Sharing and Reuse
- Explain access and sharing protocols, including embargoes and licensing
- Describe how data will be made discoverable and reusable (registers, catalogues, persistent identifiers)
- Personnel Responsibilities
- Assign roles for data stewardship, documentation and oversight throughout the project
- Provide contact information for data stewards
- Ethics and Legal Compliance
- Address participant privacy, informed consent, and research ethics approval(s)
- Include steps taken to ensure responsible handling of sensitive and/or personal data
This tool is developed by the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) in collaboration with the University of Alberta and the Arbutus team at the University of Victoria. It is a freely available, bilingual data management planning tool that helps researchers prepare data management plans (DMPs).
The website contains several DMP templates that can be adapted for use by anyone. It is also home to a wealth of training materials to help people get situated.
Developed by McMaster University, this database collects examples from around the world across many disciplines and makes them searchable by location, funder, and subject.