It is good research practice to manage your data. Some research funding agencies are now moving towards making the completion of a data management plan a requirement.
Planning at the start of a new research project will save time and resources. The Bond University Research Data Management Plan template will help you get started with your research data planning.
What is a data management plan?
A data management plan (DMP) is a living document that describes what data will be created, what policies will apply to the data, who will own and have access to the data, what data management practices will be used, what facilities and equipment will be required, and who will be responsible for each of these activities. Aspects of a DMP may change over time and subsequent versions will reflect current information to keep all stakeholders up to date.
Researcher responsibilities are outlined in the Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018.
Compliance with the Code is a requirement for ARC and NHMRC funding and is likely to be mandated by other funding bodies, government and research institutions.
What does a data management plan contain? Generally a data management plan should contain details of how you will deal with the following areas in relation to the data you will be gathering:
- The data to be generated or collected during the research project
- The ownership, copyright and intellectual property in relation to the data
- The storage of digital data
- Confidentiality and privacy requirements in relation to the data
- Consents required from participants for future use of the data
- File formats
- Volume of data
- Retention period for the data
- Post-project storage, access and re-use of the data
The Bond University generic data management plan is a good place to start. However, in some areas a data management plan specific to your discipline may better meet your needs.
