A data management plan (DMP) is a short document you create at the start of your research to address how you will work with your data.  A DMP supports the management of data through your project, helps you anticipate research data challenges in your project, and defines responsibilities regarding research data.

Common questions addressed in a DMP include:

• What types of data will be created?
• What policies (funding, legal and institutional) will apply to your data?
• Who will own, have access to, and be responsible for managing the data?
• What equipment and methods will be used to capture, process and document the data?
• How will the data be organized and documented?
• Where will the data be stored during and after the research?
• Will the data be shared? 

There are free tools available to help draft a DMP: DMP Online (UK), DMP Tool (US), DMP Assistant (Canada).  These tools have templates that reflect criteria to meet funding requirements, and can help design a plan with questions related to data in your subject area.

You can also draft your own DMP – just make sure you address all question areas to be comprehensive.

Download these helpful documents created by Johns Hopkins to assist you in the development of your data management plan: 

• Questionnaire to help with the creation of a DMP 
• Guide and Worksheet for DMPs 

You may be required by a funding agency to retain your data:

• "CIHR now requires grant recipients to retain original data sets arising from CIHR-funded research for a minimum of five years after the end of the grant. This applies to all data, whether published or not."
• "All research data collected with the use of SSHRC funds must be preserved and made available for use by others within a reasonable period of time. SSHRC considers "a reasonable period" to be within two years of the completion of the research project for which the data was collected."

Planning for the management of your data can help you prepare for these requirements from the beginning of your project.