1. Planning

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Introduction

Planning is a prerequisite for collecting, processing, and, where appropriate, sharing project data in a responsible manner. The person responsible for data collection must have a plan for which data will be collected, their scope, how they will be processed, and which solutions will be used for storage—whether for short periods or for long-term storage and archiving. Applicable privacy regulations and ethical guidelines must also be followed. 

Data Management Plan

A data management plan (often referred to as DMP) is a living document that describes how data will be handled both during a research project and after the project has ended. The aim of a data management plan is to assess and address the various aspects of managing research data so that data are handled appropriately and lawfully throughout the project, and so that data are prepared for sharing and/or archiving after the project is completed (see the glossary for research data management). 

It is often a requirement from external funders (e.g., The Research Council of Norway and Horizon Europe) that the project has a DMP, but it is also a useful tool for the research project itself. It supports planning and awareness, provides greater control over the data to be processed, and helps uncover potential challenges and costs. It is a living document that is updated on an ongoing basis. 

There are various tools and templates that can be used to create a DMP. Some examples are: Sikt DMP, DMPonline, and easyDMP. 

Examples of information often included in a DMP: 

  • What types of data you will collect 
  • Which data collection methods will be used 
  • Where the data will be stored and whether they will be archived and shared 
  • Description of the data, such as file formats and size 
  • How information security, privacy, and ethics will be addressed 
  • Costs associated with data management 
  • Roles and responsibilities for the data, e.g. access control 

“Data management is all about making your work efficient and creating more value for your data for yourself and others, during and after your research, for instance by working towards FAIR data.” Utrecht University 

Privacy and Research Ethics

Kristiania has its own guidelines for privacy and research ethics. As part of preparing a data management plan and planning for data collection, processing, and storage, you must be familiar with these resources.