Do I need to have a data management plan?

As custodians of research records and data, the Principal or Lead Investigator(s) hold primary responsibility for the collection, management, and disposal of research records and data. It is recommended that each research project should have an operational Data Management Plan (DMP) that is prepared during project development, maintained throughout the life of the project, and retained with key project documentation until the research records and data can be discarded.

The purpose of this is to:

• Enable planning for all key activities related to the data before project initiation
• Facilitate communication and a shared understanding of the project among the team
• Identify and address the data management issues most relevant to the research project
• Provide a record that describes how the data were gathered, managed, analyzed, reported, archived, and disposed of, throughout the lifespan of the project.

Additionally, some funding entities require you to share your data after your research is complete. Creating a data management plan prior to beginning research enables you to plan how your data will be shared in ways that meet requirements and deadlines.

For additional information about guidance related to data management plans, view the RCAbout This GuidanceGuidance for maintaining accurate and appropriate record of research RC About This Guidance section of the IU Guidance for the Management of Research Data website.