An introduction to Research Data Management and Data Management Planning for research managers and administrators. The presentation was given at the Open University on 18th July 2013.

1. Introduction to RDM and Data
Management Planning
Sarah Jones
DCC, University of Glasgow
sarah.jones@glasgow.ac.uk
Twitter: sjDCC

2. RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT

3. All manner of things that researchers
produce in the course of their work
What is research data?

4. Research data are collected, observed or created, for
the purposes of analysis to produce and validate
original research results
Both analogue and digital materials are 'data'
Digital data can be:
created in a digital form ("born digital")
converted to a digital form (digitised)
Defining research data

5. “the active management and
appraisal of data over the
lifecycle of scholarly and
scientific interest”
Data management is part of
good research practice
What is Research Data Management?
Create
Document
Use
Store
Share
Preserve

6. What is involved in RDM?
- Data Management Planning (DMPs)
- Creating data
- Documenting data
- Storing data
- Sharing data
- Preserving data

7. Why manage research data?
- so data can be found and understand when needed
- to make sure research projects can be completed!
- to avoid unnecessary duplication
- to validate results if required
- so research is visible and has impact
- to get credit when others cite the research

8. Good data management is about
making informed decisions

9. 5 key points to share...

10. 1. Research funders expect DMPs
www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/policy-and-legal/overview-funders-data-policies

11. 2. Researchers should seek consent for
data sharing & preservation too
If not, data centres won’t be able to accept the data
– regardless of any conditions on the original grant.

12. 3. Some formats are better for the long-term
Type Recommended Avoid for data sharing
Tabular data CSV, TSV, SPSS portable Excel
Text Plain text, HTML, RTF
PDF/A only if layout matters
Word
Media Container: MP4, Ogg
Codec: Theora, Dirac, FLAC
Quicktime
H264
Images TIFF, JPEG2000, PNG GIF, JPG
Structured data XML, RDF RDBMS
Data centres may have preferred formats for deposit.
If researchers plan to deposit in data centres they should check
their expectations at the start of the research process.
Further examples: http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/create-manage/format/formats-table

13. CCimagebymomboleumonFlickr
4. One copy = risk of data loss

14. 5. Researchers should know their options
Encourage researchers to find out what support is available
– Speak to the library & local IT support
– Check out what facilities are available in the department
– See what others in their discipline are doing
– Find out what their funder expects and offers
– Check out external data centres - http://databib.org
Managing and sharing data guide by the UKDA
www.data-archive.ac.uk/media/2894/managingsharing.pdf

15. DATA MANAGEMENT PLANNING

16. What is a DMP?
A short plan written by researchers that outlines
• what data they will create and how
• how they will manage it (storage, back-up, access…)
• plans for data sharing and preservation

17. Why develop a DMP?
DMPs are often submitted with grant applications, but
are useful whenever you are creating data to:
• Make informed decisions to anticipate and avoid problems
• Avoid duplication, data loss and security breaches
• Develop procedures early on for consistency
• Ensure data are accurate, complete, reliable and secure
• Save time and effort – make your life easier!

18. What do research funders want?
• A brief plan submitted in grant applications
• 1-3 sides of A4 as attachment or a section in Je-S form
• Typically a prose statement covering suggested themes
• An outline of data management and sharing plans,
justifying decisions and any limitations

19. Five common themes
1. Description of data to be collected / created
(i.e. content, type, format, volume...)
2. Standards / methodologies for data collection & management
3. Ethics and Intellectual Property
(highlight any restrictions on data sharing e.g. embargoes, confidentiality)
4. Plans for data sharing and access
(i.e. how, when, to whom)
5. Strategy for long-term preservation
www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/data-management-plans/checklist

20. Tips on writing DMPs
• Keep it simple, short and specific
• Seek advice - consult and collaborate
• Base plans on available skills and support
• Make sure implementation is feasible
• Justify any resources or restrictions needed

21. A useful framework to get started
Think about why the
questions are being
asked
Look at examples to
get an idea of what
to include
www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/content/datamanagement/dmp/framework.html

22. Example plans
• Technical plan submitted to AHRC by Bristol Uni
http://data.bris.ac.uk/files/2013/02/data.bris-AHRC-Technical-Plan-v21.pdf
• Rural Economy & Land Use (RELU) programme examples
http://relu.data-archive.ac.uk/data-sharing/planning/examples
• UCSD example DMPs (20+ scientific plans for NSF)
http://rci.ucsd.edu/dmp/examples.html
• My DMP – a satire (what not to write!)
http://ivory.idyll.org/blog/data-management.html

23. Help from the DCC
https://dmponline.dcc.ac.uk
www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/
how-guides/develop-data-plan
A web-based tool to help researchers
write data management plans, based on
the DCC Checklist for a DMP

24. How does DMPonline work?
Create a plan
based on
relevant
funder /
institutional
templates...
...and then
answer the
questions
using the
tailored
guidance
provided

25. Institutions can customise DMPonline
Select / write
desired questions
Add your logo, colours, URL…
Profile local support via
custom guidance and
boilerplate text

26. Thanks – any questions?
DCC guidance, tools and case studies:
www.dcc.ac.uk/resources
Follow us on twitter:
@digitalcuration and #ukdcc

27. How to support researchers with DMPs?
What role do (or should) you play?
- Raising awareness of requirements?
- Providing basic advice?
- Pointing researchers to relevant services?
- Helping to write plans and cost in RDM support?
What do you need to support researchers?
- Guidance on the intranet / FAQs?
- Training (more than today?)
- More time/resource?