What is a DMP?
A DMP is a plan that outlines and formally documents how data will be organized, stored, preserved, and disseminated as part of a research project. It details how data will be managed during the research lifecycle and describes how a researcher will adhere to data security requirements, if applicable. A DMP is considered a living document and can be adjusted as the course of research changes.
Why should I write a DMP?
DMPs are increasingly becoming required by funding agencies and research institutions. In general, a good data management plan will help researchers manage their data, improve project efficiency, save time and money, meet funder requirements, and impact the ease of sharing and reproducibility of results.
UT Dallas currently does not require a DMP unless it is required by a funding agency or if there are specific data security requirements.
How do I write a DMP?
Although researchers have the option to download the UT Dallas DMP template as a word document, it is highly encouraged that researchers use the DMPTool to craft their DMP. DMPTool is a free online web application that researchers can use to create DMPs using UT Dallas and funder-specific DMP templates. Researchers can create, store, share, and request reviews of their plans all through one interface. Learn more about the DMPTool or visit our how-to guide.
What do I have to address in a DMP?
Although DMP structures may vary across funding agencies, in general, a DMP can be broken down into 5 main sections:
Data Description
- What data will be collected, observed, generated, or created?
- What tools, software, or applications are you going to use to collect, observe, generate, or create data?
- Describe data formats, naming conventions, versioning methods, and folder structures that you will use to organize the data.
Documentation & Metadata
- What documentation will accompany the data to ensure that it will be understood and interpreted correctly?
- What metadata will accompany the data to explain the origin, purpose, time, geographic location, creator, access, and terms of use of the data?
Storage & Access
- Where will you store the data?
- Who manages the storage environment?
- How will the data be backed-up?
- How is the data accessed?
- Who manages access to the data?
- Who has permission to access the data?
- Are there any data sharing restrictions?
- How will you securely share the data?
Preservation & Dissemination
- What data requires long-term preservation?
- Where do you intend to publish project results?
- What data will be made publicly available?
- Is there data that cannot be disseminated?
Ethics & Intellectual Property Rights
- Have you obtained consent for data preservation and dissemination?
- If applicable, how will you protect the identity of participants?
- Who will own the rights to the data?
- How will the data be licensed for reuse or dissemination?
- Will any copyrighted materials be used?
How do I request feedback on a DMP?
If using the word template, users can email their DMP to datamangement@utdallas.edu along with a description of their project, the project number, and OSP contact.
If using the DMPTool, researchers may simply click the “Request Feedback” button under the “Request Feedback” tab and the Data Management Services team will be notified automatically.
DMP Examples
Documentation
Funder DMP Requirements
The following are resources to identify data sharing requirements of common funding agencies. If the funding agency you are looking for is not listed below, check out the resources provided by the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC).
Current Policy
Investigators are expected to share with other researchers, at no more than incremental cost and within a reasonable time, the primary data, samples, physical collections and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of work under NSF grants. Grantees are expected to encourage and facilitate such sharing.
Proposals must include a supplementary document of no more than two pages labeled “Data Management Plan”. This supplementary document should describe how the proposal will conform to NSF policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results.
Be sure to check out specific data management plan requirements mandated by other NSF Directorates, Offices, Divisions, Programs, and units.
References
Current Policy
In NIH’s view, all data should be considered for data sharing. Data should be made as widely and freely available as possible while safeguarding the privacy of participants, and protecting confidential and proprietary data.
Investigators submitting an NIH application seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why data sharing is not possible.
The NIH policy on data sharing applies:
- to the sharing of final research data for research purposes;
- to basic research, clinical studies, surveys, and other types of research supported by NIH;
- to research that involves human subjects;
- to laboratory research that does not involve human subjects.
References
- NIH Data Sharing Policy
This guidance provides the National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy statement on data sharing and additional information on the implementation of this policy - NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy
The NIH GDS Policy became effective for competing grant applications submitted for the January 25, 2015, receipt date; contract proposals submitted to NIH on or after January 25, 2015; and for intramural projects generating genomic data on or after August 31, 2015. The NIH GDS Policy applies to all NIH-funded research (e.g., grants, contracts, and intramural research) that generates large-scale human or non-human genomic data, regardless of the funding level, as well as the use of these data for subsequent research.
Future Policy
NIH expects researchers and institutions to implement data management and sharing practices as described in their approved Plan. Once a grant has been awarded, the Plan becomes part of the award’s terms and conditions. Compliance with the Plan, including any Plan updates, may be reviewed during regular reporting intervals.
NIH requires researchers to submit a Data Management and Sharing Plan (Plan). This policy applies to all research, funded or conducted in whole or in part by NIH, that results in the generation of scientific data. A Plan will be submitted with any grant application. Plans should include the following elements:
- Data Type
- Related Tools, Software and/or Code
- Standards
- Data Preservation, Access, and Associated Timelines
- Access, Distribution, or Reuse Considerations
- Oversight of Data Management and Sharing
NIH strongly encourages the use of established repositories to the extent possible for preserving and sharing scientific data.
References
- Final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is issuing this final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (DMS Policy) to promote the management and sharing of scientific data generated from NIH-funded or conducted research. - Supplemental Information to the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing: Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan
This supplemental information outlines the Elements to be addressed in a Plan within two pages or less. - Supplemental Information to the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing: Allowable Costs for Data Management and Sharing
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognizes that making data accessible and reusable for other users may incur costs. To assist individuals and entities subject to the final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing, this supplemental information outlines categories of allowable NIH costs associated with data management and sharing.