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Research Data Management @ Queen's

Create a Data Management Plan

Writing a data management plan, or DMP, is increasingly seen as a key part of the academic research process and might be required as a part of your funder's policies. Queen's University Library can guide you in locating and using appropriate tools and resources for preparing a data management plan.

See the Funding opportunities requiring data management plans for a list of Tri-Agency grants that require a DMP as part of the grant application.

Data Management Planning: Overview

What is a data management plan (DMP)?

  • A data management plan (DMP) is a formal document that details the strategies and tools you will use to manage your data during your research project and after its completion (Primer – Data Management Plan).
  • Importantly, a DMP is a living document that should be reviewed throughout the project and adjusted as needed to respond to any potential needs or changes that arise.

Data management planning includes:

  • Understanding the nature of your data and the impacts of changes to your data and workflow over the course of your research project.
  • Defining a desirable end state for your research data.
  • Identifying local resources that can help guide you.
  • Making yourself aware of relevant policies, research obligations, and laws that may impact your goals.

Why create a data management plan?

  • Preparatory work may identify unique contributions or possible data duplication relating to your research project. 
  • DMPs establish procedures for data management which help project team members contribute to the research process and can be particularly helpful when project team members join or leave.
  • Implementing a DMP should improve the ability of your research collaborators to find, understand, and use the data.
  • Adhering to your plan should ensure that, at the end of the project, your data is findable and accessible to others.
  • Data underlying publications are maintained, allowing for the validation of results.

What does a DMP include? 

You may notice that the structure of DMPs can vary, including the number and types of sections. One reason for these differences is related to the unique guidelines and requirements for specific grants from various funding agencies. The most important thing to remember is that DMPs should be fit for purpose and meet the specific needs of the research context. In addition to meeting the requirements of a particular funding application, a DMP should be helpful for you and your team to support the management of your project!

The following table provides an overview of a typical DMP.

Section Description
Data Type and File Formats This section provides guidance on data collection details such as data types, file formats, naming conventions, and data organization. These factors can improve the usability of your data and contribute to the success of your project.
Documentation and Metadata All research data should be accompanied by metadata. Metadata standards vary across disciplines, but generally state a description of the data, who created the data and when, how the data were created, their quality, accuracy, and precision, as well as other features necessary to help users search for, understand, and use the data. Any restrictions on use of the data must be explained in the metadata, along with information on how to obtain approved access to the data, where possible.
Storage and Backup This section focuses on the importance of secure and efficient storage and backup strategies for your research data during the active phase of your project. It offers guidance on estimating storage requirements, choosing proper storage solutions, and ensuring proper data backup and access control. Additionally, it provides advice on developing effective storage and backup practices to prevent data loss, enable collaboration, and maintain the integrity of your research data.
Preservation This section focuses on the long-term preservation of your research data to ensure its accessibility, usability, and value for future research and educational purposes. Data preservation depends on its potential value for reuse, whether there are obligations to retain or destroy data, and the resources required to curate and manage the data into the future. It provides guidance on selecting proper data repositories, preparing your data for preservation, and adhering to best practices for data curation and management.
Share and Reuse With the advancement of open science and open data policies from research funding agencies, journal publishers, disciplinary groups, and institutions, researchers are increasingly recognizing that research data should be responsibly and securely managed and, where possible, available for reuse by others. Data sharing and reuse promotes the acceleration of research progress and enables research results to be reproduced, improving the integrity and trustworthiness of published results. This section provides guidance on determining whether data can be shared, the proper form of data to share, selecting suitable end-user licenses or agreements, and promoting the discoverability and accessibility of your data within the research community. Equally important is the need to protect the privacy of human participants and to handle data with sensitivities responsibly and ethically.
Responsibilities and Resources This section focuses on identifying the roles and responsibilities of project members in managing research data, addressing potential personnel changes, and estimating the resources and costs associated with implementing a data management plan.
Ethics and Legal Compliance This section addresses the ethical and legal aspects of managing research data, with a focus on handling sensitive data, addressing secondary uses of sensitive data, and managing legal, ethical, and intellectual property issues. Ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines, data privacy laws, and intellectual property rights is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the research project and protecting the rights and interests of data subjects and data creators.

The Library Recommends: DMP Assistant

The Digital Research Alliance of Canada, in collaboration with the University of Alberta, has developed the DMP Assistant. It is a free, online tool designed to help Canadian academic researchers develop and implement research data management plans.

The DMP Assistant allows researchers to:

  • Create data management plans, using templates associated with an institution, a discipline, or a methodology.
  • Access guidance based upon the template scenario selected.
  • Collaborate with multiple researchers on a DMP.
  • Connect to local guidance and support for research data management at their academic institution.

Resources

For more information, visit Best Practices and Queen's Resources.