Research data management starts with a DMP
A data management plan or DMP is a document that describes how the research data is handled throughout the lifecycle of a project. The DMP is a very useful planning tool and you should write your DMP as early as possible in the research project, as it will help you to plan for processes such as ethical approval, data protection requirements and short and long term storage of the data.
Your DMP will help you to formalise the process for managing your research data from project initiation to completion, and it will help you identify weaknesses in your plan or gaps in your provisions e.g. where you need additional storage space for data you intend to collect. At the start of a new study, the DMP is a useful way to record what you intend to do, which can also be very helpful for team work where you need everyone on the team to follow the same processes.
A DMP is designed to be a working document. You won't have all the answers at the start of your project and it can be updated periodically as the project progresses, or if there are any significant developments, e.g. ethical approval is granted for the study, or you decide to change your methodology slightly.
It can be difficult to start with an empty page, but luckily many funding organisations provide a 'DMP template' to guide you through the process of creating your DMP.
Specific information and links to the DMP templates for some of the main funders at RCSI can be found in the Funder requirements for RDM section of this Library Guide.
DMPonline contains many of the DMP templates of the organisations that fund research at RCSI, including but not limited to Horizon Europe, the HRB, Research Ireland (SFI) and the European Research Council. Many funders also provide guidance on what to describe in each section, and you can access this advice when you use DMPonline to create your DMP.
If you are unsure of what template to use, you can contact the Research Data Coordinator at RCSI Library for advice. Use the 'Chat with us' red tab on the right of the screen, or by email the Library at library@rcsi.com with your question.
At the top of your DMP you should provide the following administrative information to identify the study and authors. For example:
The DMP typically consists of six sections as follows:
This library guide provides you with guidance on how to answer each of the six sections tpyically included in a DMP. Use the menu on the left of this screen to explore the guidance for each section.
When should I create my DMP? The first DMP should be created in the early stages of a research project, ideally by month 6 of the project. The DMP is a first deliverable for many funders, and it's a document you can start work on almost immediately on project initiation. The DMP is a very useful tool for thinking through some of the planning around digital storage and access to data, how data may need to be transfered between sites, what ethical approval may be required before the research can begin, whether a Data Protection Impact Assessment will be required, and whether data can be reused in future research and what needs to be put in place to enable this.
How often should I update my DMP? You should aim to revisit and review your DMP at regular intervals as this will help keep things on track as the data starts to flow in to the study. You can update your DMP as often as you like, but most researchers find an update at 6 months or 12 months (for long projects) to be sufficient. The update will usually involve a few small additions or edits to the DMP.
You should time stamp and version each updated DMP, for example
2024-Jan-DMP_1
2024-Nov-DMP_2
2025-Feb-DMP_3
Still not sure where to start? If you would one-to-one support with your DMP, please contact the Research Data Coordinator at RCSI Library for advice. Use the 'Chat with us' red tab on the right of the screen, or by email the Library at library@rcsi.com with your question.
DMPs for studies involving clinical trials require greater detail, including the use of electronic case report forms, and are not in the scope of this guide, for more information please email Sponsorship@rcsi.com or contact the RCSI Clinical Research Centre.
What if my funder does not specify a DMP template that I should use? Funding bodies are increasingly aligning themselves with the Science Europe Core Requirements for Data Management Plans. To help researchers, Science Europe has created an easy to follow DMP Template, which addresses the majority of issues frequently raised by funders.
You can also find information on writing a DMP in the Practical Guide to the International Alignment of Research Data Management from Science Europe. This guide provides advice on how to organise research data and preserve it appropriately.
The guide presents core requirements for DMPs, criteria for the selection of trustworthy repositories, and guidance for researchers on how to comply with these DMP requirements.
This extended edition also includes an evaluation rubric to facilitate the evaluation of a DMP, which many researchers and support staff find very helpful for creating a well thought out DMP.
More resources on DMPs