Facts About Data Management Plans:
A Data Management Plan (DMP) is a written living document that formally outlines what you will do with your research data during the course of your research project and afterwards. It is a living document because any time your research plans change, you should review your DMP in order to make sure that the plan still satisfies your essential data needs. It’s important to manage your data for many reasons. Firstly, it enhances the integrity of your research by virtue of increasing access and therefore, the reproducibility of your research data. Secondly, it safeguards and allows you to share your data for recognition and possibly to facilitate new scientific discoveries. Lastly, the number of funding agencies that require you to share and preserve your data is growing.
Although a DMP can be designed throughout the research cycle (i.e. it’s never too late), it is best to plan for one early on in the research cycle in order to avoid many data management issues/headaches, which can be easily avoided by planning ahead.
Funding Agency Requirements:
Several funding agencies both federal and private require a DMP with every funding application.
Examples of Federal Funding Agencies that Require Data Sharing or a DMP:
DMP Tools:
The DMPTool will help cater your DMP to the needs/requirements of a specific funding agency. In general, it is important to consider these things when writing a DMP:
Institutional DMPTool Partners: