Data Management  

The particular requirements of a data management plan will vary among funding agencies so it is best to always consult the agency. However there are a few attributes which are common to all data management plans including:

1. Types of data to be produced

2. Description and the methodology of how the data will be collected

3. Standards that would be applied for format, i.e. metadata

4. Provisions for archiving and preservation

5. Backup and storage procedures

6. Access policies and provisions for secondary uses

7. Plans for eventual transition of the data collection after project is complete

8. Any protection or security measures taken to protect participant confidentiality or intellectual property

As of January 2011, The National Science Foundation (NSF) will require researchers who submit grant proposals to include an appendix that describes plans for the management of research data.  Such Data Management Plans (DMP) will be evaluated as part of the grant proposal.  The NSF maintains a policy on the dissemination and sharing of research data that requires investigators to, among other things, facilitate the sharing of data that results from work supported by NSF grants. More on this policy can be found here. While the NSF requirement is not new, recent years have seen a renewed emphasis on data sharing and many other federal agencies also require some form of data management plan to accompany grant proposals.

According to the Code of Federal Regulations, research data is, "... defined as the recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings, but not any of the following: Preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews, or communications with colleagues."

There are a number of things to consider when sharing data and developing a data management plan.  Among them are the accommodation of legal and ethical requirements that protect confidentiality and personal information, the choices of metadata standards and description mechanisms that make data usable to other researchers and the enumeration of usage policies that governs the use of data.  This guide serves as a resource for researchers who seek further understanding of data management and sharing or wish to avail themselves of NYU resources with respect to the same.

The NSF has provided a list of answers to frequently asked questions to further illuminate the requirements that undergird their data management appendix but these answers are applicable in many instances.  At New York University, staff at the Data Service Studio are prepared to assist researchers who need to develop a data management plan and make recommendations. Librarians and professionals from NYU Libraries and ITS are available to consult on data curation issues including issues related to documentation, metadata standards and creation, and the identification of appropriate data repositories.

Data Service Studio
Bobst Library, 5th Floor
70 Washington Square
data.service@nyu.edu
1-212-998-3434

Request an appointment to discuss your data management plan needs.