The document provides guidance on writing a data management plan (DMP). It explains that DMPs are now required by many funders to accompany grant applications. A DMP outlines how research data will be managed and shared during and after a project. It should address issues like the type of data being collected, documentation, storage and backup plans, data sharing and reuse, legal and ethical concerns, and long-term preservation. Writing a DMP helps ensure good data management practices and that a project is compliant with funder policies supporting open access to research data.

1. How to Write a Data
Management Plan
Gareth Cole,
Data Curation Officer, Open Access
Team

2. Introduction
• Why do we need good data management?
• Why do I need to write a data management
plan?
• What data management issues might I face in
my research?
• What should go into a data management
plan?

3. What is a Data Management Plan
(DMP)?
• “Plans typically state what data will be created
and how, and outline the plans for sharing and
preservation, noting what is appropriate given
the nature of the data and any restrictions
that may need to be applied.”
– Digital Curation Centre website

4. Why do we need good data
management?
• Requirements of the funding bodies
– Open Access
– Articles submitted for publication after 1st April 2013 will
need to say how and from where any supporting data can
be accesses
• University policy in early 2013
• Good research practice
– Back up should mean no loss of data
– Data can be more easily shared, helping with collaborative
projects
– Data can be more easily verified
– Data is more visible and discoverable

5. Why write a DMP?
• Many funders now require a DMP as part of
the application process
• Helps the associated project with data
management issues
• Makes the project members think about
relevant issues

6. RCUK Common Principles on Data
Policy
• The Common Principles are available on the RCUK
website.
– Open Data
– Accessible Data
– Discoverable Data
– Legal, ethical and commercial considerations should be
considered
– privileged use the data
– Data use should be acknowledged
– Public funds can be used to support the
management and sharing of publicly-funded
research data

7. Wellcome Trust – Policy Statement
Policy Statement
• Open Data
• If important data outputs are expected then a
Data Management and Sharing Plan needs to be
submitted
• Wellcome Trust will fund data management costs
• Research data use should be acknowledged
• The Wellcome Trust encourages data sharing
and data reuse

8. Other Funder Policies
• Most encourage or support Open Access to
data and this is expected in to increase e.g.:
– NIHR: Research Governance Framework – Data
relevant to findings should also be accessible
(section 2.4.3)
– Cancer Research UK policy: Require a data
management and sharing plan

9. Data Management Issues 1
• What sort of data am I using?
– Is it created or captured?
– Has it been digitised or “born digital”?
– Which file types am I using and why?
• Documenting the data
– Metadata is critical for future re-use of your data
– Supporting documentation for your datasets

10. Data Management Issues 2
• Primary Storage of data
– Where will the data be stored?
– How much data will I have?
– How will the data be accessed?
– How will I back up my data?

11. Data Management Issues 3
• Legal and Ethical
– Data Protection and privacy of participants
– Intellectual Property Rights
• Will the data be shared?
– Email attachments
– Cloud storage
• Confidentiality, Data Protection issues
– Personal websites
– Portable devices (USB/external hard drives)

12. Data Management Issues 4
• How will the data be archived?
– Discipline specific repository
– National repository
– Institutional repository (EDA)
– Dark Archive
– Not archived

13. Exercise
• Working in groups...
• Think about the issues I have discussed today
– Would you know where to go for advice?
– Have you ever had to write a DMP? What
problems did you face?
– Using the subjects on the next slide think what
you could write in a DMP for one of your group’s
latest/current research project.

14. • What sort of data is being used?
• How and where is the data documented?
• Where will the data be stored?
• How and where will the data be backed up?
• Will the data be shared? If so, how?
• Will the data be archived?

15. Help and Advice
• UKDA guidance
• Digital Curation Centre guidance and tools
• Open Access and Data Curation team
• RCUK Data Policy
• Wellcome Trust Policy
• University of Exeter draft policies