DMP 11: The Ultimate Guide to Data Management Planning

What is DMP 11?

DMP 11 is a data management plan template developed by the Digital Curation Centre (DCC) and adopted by the Research Data Alliance (RDA) as an international standard. It provides a framework for researchers to document how they plan to manage their research data throughout the research lifecycle.

Why is DMP 11 Important?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), over $2 billion is wasted annually due to poor data management practices. DMP 11 helps researchers avoid these costs by providing a structured approach to managing their data. By documenting their data management plans, researchers can:

• Ensure that their data is accessible and usable by themselves and others
• Comply with funding agency requirements
• Protect their data from loss or damage
• Increase the impact of their research

How to Use DMP 11

DMP 11 is a flexible template that can be tailored to fit the needs of any research project. However, it generally includes the following sections:

1. Data Description: A description of the types of data that will be collected, including their format and volume.
2. Data Collection: A description of the methods that will be used to collect the data, including any ethical considerations.
3. Data Processing: A description of the methods that will be used to process the data, including any quality control measures.
4. Data Storage and Security: A description of the methods that will be used to store and secure the data, including any backup procedures.
5. Data Sharing and Access: A description of the policies that will be used to share and provide access to the data, including any restrictions.
6. Data Preservation: A description of the methods that will be used to preserve the data for future use, including any long-term storage and access arrangements.

Tips and Tricks for Using DMP 11

Here are a few tips and tricks for using DMP 11:

• Start early. The earlier you create a DMP, the more time you will have to refine it and ensure that it is comprehensive.
• Tailor your DMP to your project. DMP 11 is a flexible template, so you can tailor it to fit the specific needs of your research project.
• Get feedback from others. Ask colleagues, mentors, or data management experts to review your DMP and provide feedback.
• Keep your DMP updated. Your DMP is a living document that should be updated as your project progresses.

How to Step-by-Step Use DMP 11

Step 1: Describe your data

• What types of data will you collect?
• What format will the data be in?
• What is the volume of data?

Step 2: Plan for data collection

• How will you collect the data?
• What ethical considerations are involved?

Step 3: Plan for data processing

• How will you process the data?
• What quality control measures will you use?

Step 4: Plan for data storage and security

• Where will you store the data?
• How will you secure the data?
• What backup procedures will you use?

Step 5: Plan for data sharing and access

• Who will have access to the data?
• What restrictions will you place on data access?

Step 6: Plan for data preservation

• How will you preserve the data for future use?
• What long-term storage and access arrangements will you make?

Pros and Cons of Using DMP 11

Pros:

• Comprehensive and well-organized: DMP 11 provides a comprehensive framework for documenting data management plans.
• Flexible: DMP 11 can be tailored to fit the needs of any research project.
• Supported by funding agencies: DMP 11 is supported by many funding agencies, including the NIH and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
• Free to use: DMP 11 is a free template that can be downloaded from the DCC website.

Cons:

• Can be time-consuming to complete: Creating a DMP can be time-consuming, especially for large or complex research projects.
• Requires some technical expertise: DMP 11 requires some technical expertise to complete, especially for sections on data storage and security.
• May not be suitable for all research projects: DMP 11 may not be suitable for all research projects, such as small-scale projects or projects that do not involve the collection of sensitive data.

Call to Action

Researchers are encouraged to use DMP 11 to document their data management plans. By doing so, they can improve the quality of their research, reduce costs, and comply with funding agency requirements.

Additional Resources

• DMP 11 Template
• DMP 11 User Guide
• DMP 11 FAQs