Health Sciences Research Data Management: Data Management Plan

A Data Management Plan (DMP) is a formal document that describes what will happen to your data over the course of the research project. A good DMP outlines and describes in detail all aspects of data management for the project including how collected data are to be organized, documented, stored, shared, and preserved.

Why should you have a DMP?

A growing number of funding agencies including, but not limited to, the National Institute of Health (NIH), The National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) require researchers to submit a DMP to meet funding requirements. The reasoning behind this is that a DMP assures funders that data will be accessible and usable now and in the future, as well as adding to the integrity of the data and overall project.

What should a DMP cover?

The depth and breadth of the information you include in your DMP will be specific to your project. Every DMP will be different because every research project is different. According to the NIH, recommended elements for any DMP include:

• Data Type - including the types and estimated amount of scientific data to be generated
• Related Tools, Software and/or Code - what's needed to access or manipulate shared scientific data to support replication or reuse
• Standards - including data formats, data dictionaries, data identifiers, definitions, unique identifiers, and other data documentation
• Data Preservation, Access and Associated Timelines - How, where and when will people be able to access the data, and for how long?
• Access, Distribution, or Reuse Considerations - Describe any applicable factors affecting subsequent access, distribution, or reuse of scientific data
• Oversight of Data Management and Sharing - Who is responsible for ensuring the plan is cared out? Who will this responsibility shift to if someone leaves the project?