Preparing data management plans with the DMPTool

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Although journal articles are often the most visible products of research studies, the data underlying those articles are in themselves important sources of information.  The careful documentation, preservation, and sharing of research data not only prevents unnecessary duplication of research efforts, but also may lead to new discoveries. That data, however, is difficult to share if it exists only on an external hard drive in a desk drawer.

To promote the preservation and sharing of data, many major funding agencies, including the NSF, NIH, and NEH, now require a data management plan(DMP) as a component of grant proposals. In a DMP, researchers can formulate strategies for storing their data while their study is in progress, preserving their data long-term for the scholarly record, sharing their data with others, and describing or documenting their data to make them computer-readable and meaningful in the future.

To assist Emory researchers with the preparation of DMPs, the Research Data Management group at Robert W. Woodruff Library now offers use of the DMPTool. This free online tool, which is a service of the University of California Curation Center and the California Digital Library, allows Emory researchers to create, save, and revisit their DMPs by logging in with their Emory network ID and password. The DMPTool also provides helpful information and links for each component of the plan.

Need further assistance in preparing a DMP or general guidance on how to manage research data? Contact the Research Data Management group at dataplans@emory.edu.