Data management plan
It is wise to start thinking about data management already in the planning stage of a project. A data management plan helps you to consider the most important data management issues and any associated costs.
A data management plan should also ensure that data is collected and documented more effectively during the course of the project and should streamline future publication, storage and accessibility. Discuss the matter with your colleagues, subject head, or Karlstad University’s research data support team to develop joint solutions and routines for research data management.
When a data management plan is written in response to a specific call for applications, it also needs to meet the funder’s requirements.
USUALLY, A DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN INCLUDES INFORMATION ON:
- Administrative details – summarise the project and list participants
- Legal and ethical aspects – describe intellectual resources or agreements that must be considered or, if the project includes sensitive data, any future reuse and sharing of data that needs to be considered before ethical review.
- Metadata and documentation – describe how research materials will be collected, structured and documented as well as any metadata standards that will be used.
- Storage – describe how research data collected or generated as part of the project will be stored so that it can be shared with colleagues and project partners. This includes the processing of sensitive data, storage format and backups.
- Long-term storage and accessibility – describe how data will be stored, for example in a repository with a permanent identification code, as well as any specific guidelines for the reuse of data, such as citation or licensing.
- Costs – in some cases, data management costs can be included in the project budget. Different funders have different policies, so check the specific requirements of the funder and how you can fulfil them.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON DATA MANAGEMENT PLANS
- SND on data management
- Open Science working group in the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF)