Data Management Plans

What is a DMP?

A DMP (Data Management Plan) is a formal plan that outlines how a researcher intends to manage research data during and after a research project.

Why do I need a DMP?

Many funders strongly encourage or require researchers to complete a DMP to help ensure the appropriate management of research data for reproducibility and reuse by others. A DMP is also a useful tool for project and resource planning.

DMP Guidance

Information on typical DMP questions are presented below with assisting guidance. Note that some funders may require a specific DMP template be used, always check first.

• U of T Libraries – Data management plan questions and guidance for creating a DMP

• U of T Libraries – Data management plan checklist

A DMP should address questions such as:

• What types of data will be created
• Policies (funding, legal and institution) that apply to the data
• Who will own, have access to, and be responsible for managing the data
• What equipment and methods will be used to capture, process and document the data
• How the data will be organized and documented
• Where the data will be stored during and after the research
• How the data will be shared and under what provisions

Online Data Management Plan tools

There are free tools available to help draft a DMP. These tools have templates that reflect criteria to meet funding requirements, and can help design a plan that is relevant to data in your research domain:

• DMPonline (United Kingdom)
• DMPTool (United States)
• DMP Assistant (Canada)

Sample Data Management Plans

• Humanities 
  Example 1 • Example 2 • Example 3 • Example 4 • Example 5 • Example 6 • Example 7 • Example 8 • Example 9 • Example 10 • Example 11 • Example 12 • Example 13 • Example 14 (American Anthropological Association) • Example 15 (Digital Humanities) • Example 16 (Digital Humanities using Secondary Data)

• Science 
  Example 1 • Example 2 • Example 3 • Example 4 • Example 5  (US National Science Foundation [DataONE])

• Social Science 
  Example 1 (ICPSR)

• Health Sciences
  Example 1 [download as a Word document] (US National Institutes of Health)

• Various Disciplines: Multiple Examples (UC San Diego)
  Includes Science, Engineering, Education, Math, Computer Science, Multidisciplinary | Note: Several are part of a successfully funded grant

• Study Type
  Mixed Methods Example

More information:

Writing a Data Management Plan:

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

• How to Develop a Data Management and Sharing Plan (Digital Curation Centre)