DMP

RDM

Research data management (RDM) is the active management and appraisal of research data over the lifecycle of scholarly and scientific interest.

Durham RDM training course:

Source: Digital Curation Centre

RDM

Core RDM activities

http://doi.org/c3g3

• Describing data-related work before you begin
• Documenting your data and dataprocessing in order to make it comprehensible
• Choosing open file formats where possible​
• Storing data safely during a project​
• Depositing it in a trusted repo at the end of the project​
• Linking publications with the supporting datasets and code scripts

Research data

(1) Research data, unlike other types of information, is collected, observed, or created, for purposes of analysis to produce original research results. -- University of Edinburgh

Research data

(2) Anything which can be used to validate or replicate a research conclusion, or enrich understanding of the research process. -- Martin Donnelly, Digital Curation Centre

DMP

Data management plan

A living document, ideally 8-10 pages in length, written by a researcher and specifying the data that will be created during a research project, together with information on how it can be accessed and utilised. Not a contract. (Source: Martin Donnelly, Digital Curation Centre)

maDMP

Machine-actionable data management plan

Synonyms: active, dynamic or machine-readable DMP.

A data management plan in which information is structured in a consistent way so that machines, or computers, can be programmed against the structure. -- Data Documentation Initiative Alliance

Personal and sensitive data

Personal data is data relating to a living individual, which allows the individual to be identified from the information itself or from the information plus any other information held by the 'data controller' (or from information available in the public domain). [Durham University] as a whole is the data controller.

Sensitive data is personal data about:

• racial or ethnic origin
• political opinions
• religious beliefs
• Trade Union membership
• physical and mental health
• sexual life
• criminal offences and court proceedings about these

Source: University of Cambridge (data.cam.ac.uk)

Personal and sensitive data

Repository

A software platform that manages the deposit, description, dissemination and potentially the long-term preservation of electronic resources (or digital objects) of all kinds. -- M.E. Phillips, Head of Digital and Bibliographic Services

Repository

Durham repositories (current)

• Durham Research Online Datasets Archive (DRO-DATA) for research data
• Durham Research Online (DRO) for journal articles etc.
• E-Theses
• Manuscripts in Durham Cathedral Priory Library

Source: Research data lifecycle by Jisc is licenced under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0.

Funder expectations

• DMP is evidence the researcher has a data management strategy
• Funders must be transparent and open with taxpayers about publically-funded research
• Funders would like to see a return on their investments: responsible data management maximises research potential of the data

Typical structure of DMP

• Project title and abstract
• Proposed research methods: e.g., measurements; observations; interviews; surveys; longitudinal studies;
• Description of research data to be collected: formats & volume
• Metadata standard used to describe the research data: e.g., DDI, Dublin Core, CIF, SDMX...
• The sensitivity** of the data and how access to it will be managed
• Active data storage & collaboration during the research project (short-term data management)
• Sharing data by deposit in a repository (but there are some exceptions)
• Long-term preservation of research data

** Consult the University's Information Security Classification and Handling Standard

Benefits of planning

• More likely to meet objectives if you plan
• Good research habits lead to longer preservation of research data (less data loss)
• Planning leads to better communication with collaborators, professional support staff and funders