There's a lot that goes into a Data Management Plan (DMP), including many different sections and details. On this page we have links to good resources which will help you in creating your own DMP.
The Tri-Agency policy states that:
"...all DMPs should describe:
- how data will be collected, documented, formatted, protected and preserved;
- how existing datasets will be used and what new data will be created over the course of the research project;
- whether and how data will be shared; and
- where data will be deposited.
DMPs also indicate who is responsible for managing the project’s data, describe the succession plans in place should that person leave the research team, and identify the data-related roles and responsibilities of other team members where appropriate. Finally, DMPs outline ethical, legal and commercial constraints the data are subject to, and methodological considerations that support or preclude data sharing."
General Best Practices:
- Base your DMP on published exemplar DMPs. An exemplar is an example DMP from a particular research project, while the templates are discipline specific documents that will guide you through the DMP creation process and prompt you for specific information to put in the DMP.
- Check out our DMP Database for a broad collection of over 200 data management plans that have been shared publicly by researchers and funders. These include:
- Review your DMP regularly and revise it as you progress through your research project. Remember your DMP is meant to be a living document. When your practices change, make sure you update your DMP.
- Reach out if you need assistance - we're available to consult on DMPs. Email us at rdm@mcmaster.ca or book a consultation.
Data Management Plans in Indigenous Research
Research engaging with or involving Indigenous communities in any way has specific responsibilities. Primarily, data sovereignty is determined by a First Nations, Inuit, or Métis community first. You also have obligations under policy and ethical guidelines, including best practices and requirements for conducting Indigenous research as outlined by Tri-Agency frameworks and, as applicable, institutional policies.
Thus, a data management plan should be co-developed with the Indigenous communities that your research involves or created by the researcher for approval by the community. Some communities have their own data management protocols that a researcher must complete. If you are creating a DMP for an Indigenous research project or working with Indigenous data, some questions to ask yourself are:
- How will we maintain Indigenous data sovereignty and keep sensitive information safe?
- Are there other things like the law or intellectual property which impact data?
- Are there other documents that will help us, and future participants, understand what we have collected?
- How do we make sure what we’ve gathered is accessible to the community?
For additional guidence, check out the following resources:
Read on below for guidance with the different sections of a DMP:
