Managing Your Research Data: Plan & create

A DMP is a formal document that describes the data you expect to collect or generate during your research, how you will manage, describe, analyse, and store those data, and how you will preserve and share that data at the end of your project. Why write a DMP?

• Several publishers and funders require a DMP
• A DMP will help you meet your obligations to the University of Otago as laid out in the Research Code of Conduct
• It helps you streamline your research project and plan for all aspects of the data lifecycle

The University of Otago has an online DMP tool for staff and students. It is safe, secure and you can access your data management information anytime from any computer or mobile device.

Other DMP tools you can use include:

• The Digital Curation Centre's DMPonline  
• The California Digital Library's DMPTool

For more information about writing a DMP, or to see examples of completed DMPs see below:

• Data Management Checklist (UK Data Service) 

  A short list for identifying basic data management practices.

• Checklist for a Data Management Plan (Digital Curation Centre) 

  A thorough four-page checklist with questions to consider and advice.

• DCC's Example DMPs and Guidance

It is likely you will need to consider confidentiality, commercial and third-party use, sensitivity, storage and security of your data. Additional consideration in your DMP may be warranted for:

• Managing the consultation process with Māori when applicable (see also Te Mana Raraunga for more on Māori data sovereignty)
• Depositing data in a publicly-accessible data repository

Also, be aware of the University of Otago's policies regarding intellectual property rights, ownership, and copyright:

• University of Otago Intellectual Property Rights Policy 
• Intellectual Property Rights of Graduate Research Students Policy

At every stage of the data lifecycle, consider the FAIR and CARE data principles, particularly if you are working with Indigenous data. 

• FAIR stands for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable
• CARE stands for Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, Ethics