Funding agencies now require researchers to provide a data management plan as part of their funding proposals.

There is a  Data Management Planning Tool developed by a group of major U.S. research institutions offering ready-to-use templates to create data management plans for the NSF, NIH, NEH, NOAA, GBMF and IMLS. For other templates and tools, see the Tools & Resources box on this guide to the left.

The Claremont Colleges Library can provide consultative services to help campus researchers share, reuse, manage or archive their data. Contact your librarian.

Thanks to Marisa Ramirez for use of her research guide on Data Management Plans.

Thanks to Dorthea Salo of University of Wisconsin for sharing the reading lists for her 2012 course, Introduction to Research Data Management.

A data management plan helps you:

• increase impact and visibility of your research with data citation
• document and provide evidence for your research in conjunction with published results
• comply with funding mandates, and meet copyright and ethical compliance requirements
• preserve data for the long-term, safeguards your investment from loss
• share your data with others, benefiting interdisciplinary research and others to build on your work

1. Outline a procedure for naming data and document files for lab and research groups (i.e. PI, graduate, students, collaborators).

2. Develop a procedure for regular collection and indexing of files from all lab and research group participants.

3. Back-up regularly on multiple storage media (i.e. office computer or lab hard-drive, external hard-drive, data service) in geographically different locations.

4. Become familiar with funder requirements for data management plans, sharing, depositing data, etc.

5. Understand the ethical, legal, and copyright issues associated with data collection, reuse and sharing.