Focus on Data Management & Data Management Plans
How Collins Can Help
What is Data Management?
Data management is the storage, access, and preservation of research data that is produced in the course of scholarly work. Throughout the lifecycle of a research project, there are specific moments during which data needs to be managed by the researcher, from initial planning to final deposition. Much of this management is second nature to experienced researchers, as data is collected, then assessed via a quality control process, documented whether formally or informally, processed for further analysis and use, possibly shared with others, and then finally archived in some fashion.
How can Collins Library assist with Data Management?
Liaison librarians are available to assist faculty with identifying areas where data management practices could be improved, or methods for incorporating data management best practices into teaching. Librarians can offer suggestions for discipline-appropriate best practices for sharing and archiving data, such as identifying subject-based data repositories and assisting with the process of depositing data. Librarians can also support one of the most common data management needs of faculty researchers, which is the creation of (and adherence to) a Data Management Plan.
What is a Data Management Plan?
A Data Management Plan (or DMP) is a document formally describing how researchers will manage, store, and make available the data that they collect or generate, both during the course of their research and after a given research project is completed. Typically, a DMP will address issues of long term storage, responsibility for ongoing maintenance of data, and the accessibility of the data for later reuse or access by other researchers. Specific details are included about how the data was generated, what file types are needed to store the data, what naming conventions or other organizational methods are in place, and how the data is being backed up or permanently archived.
Learn more about Data Management Plans at this guide hosted by Collins library which answers frequently asked questions, provides examples of completed DMPs, and links to useful tools for creating a DMP: http://research.pugetsound.edu/dmp
Interested in Learning More about Data Management or Data Management Plans?
- Contact Science Liaison Librarian Eli Gandour-Rood at egandourrood@pugetsound.edu or x3678
- Consult the DataONE guide to best practices for research data management (https://www.dataone.org/best-practices)
- Read this article about data management:
- Goodman A, Pepe A, Blocker AW, Borgman CL, Cranmer K, Crosas M, et al. (2014) Ten Simple Rules for the Care and Feeding of Scientific Data. PLoS Comput Biol 10(4): e1003542. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003542
Need Information? Don’t forget the Collins Memorial Library – Library Guides
Questions? Contact your liaison librarian
Comments: Contact Jane Carlin, library director
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