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Data Management

Resources and tips to help you securely create, preserve, license, and share your data, plus writing a data management plan and citing data.

DMP Tool

Typical DMP Components

Data description
1) A description of the new data to be collected; 2) A description of existing relevant data (when applicable) and how these data will be integrated into the project.

Data format and dissemination
Formats in which the data will be generated, managed, and made available. 

Data quality assurance 
Procedures for ensuring data quality during the project.

Metadata
A description of the metadata and metadata standards to be used along with the generated data.

Data storage and preservation
A description of data storage methods and backup procedures during and after the project.

Data security
A description of data security methods to protect confidentiality, personal privacy, proprietary interests, business confidential information, and intellectual property rights and how permissions, restrictions, and embargoes will be enforced.

Data sharing
A description of data sharing procedures during and after the project, including a timeframe for data sharing and publishing. 

Roles and responsibilities
Names of the individuals responsible for data management in the project and a contingency plan in case key personnel leave the project. 

Intellectual property rights
Entities or individuals who will hold the intellectual property rights to the data, any copyright restrictions, and how intellectual property will be protected if necessary.

Archiving costs
The costs of preparing data for archiving and how these costs will be paid.
 

Research Funders Requiring DMPs

Key Tools

Overview of Key Data Terms

 

Data
Any raw material in physical or digital form that is collected and/or generated over the course of a research project.
Data lifecycle
All the stages the data progress through during the research process
Data management
The practice of managing, sharing, and archiving data.
Data management plan
A plan outlining what data will be generated, collected, or used for a research project, and how that data will be managed during and after a research project.
Data repository
A database that organizes and holds digital data and makes the data available for use and reuse.
Data set
A collection of data that relates to a particular research study.
Metadata
The description of all aspects of data and software components used for the collection or creation of data such as title, date collected, creator, or funder.
Open data
Data that can be freely used, reused, analyzed, and redistributed by anyone.

 

Creative Commons License