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Data Management: Data Management Plans

Learn about best practices for research data management and find links to external resources of help.

Help from the Library

Help at Bethel University Library

Consider contacting a Librarian for suggestions on:

  • Sample language to use in a DMP
  • Discipline-specific resources for help
  • Common data/metadata standards 
  • Places where one can archive/deposit data 

A Research Librarian is most easily reached by email or in person at the library Research Help Desk.

Resources for DMP preparation

Outside Help on Data Management Plan writing

What is a Data Management Plan?

Elements of a Data Management Plan (DMP)

  • Description of what data a project will produce
  • How that data will be collected and stored 
  • Means of safeguarding data (in cases of confidential/sensitive data)
  • Plans for sharing data with other researchers

DMPs and Funding Agencies

DMPs are increasingly required as a part of the grant proposal process including the following funding agencies:

NSF Data Management Guidance (by Directorate)

Using this box

The tabs contain links to data management guidelines from specific NSF Directorates and divisions. Click a tab to reveal its links and a description of the directorate.

Below is a link to the general NSF guideliens on DMPs.

•   NSF - MPS Directorate Guidelines

The Math and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate does not provide directorate-wide guidelines, but instead provides guidelines for each of its five divisions, listed below.

Funders & Journals

National Endowment for the Humanities

NEH Office of Digital Humanities requires a Data Management Plan (2 pages) that answers the following questions: 

  • What data are generated by your research?
  • What is your plan for managing the data?

"Managing" data includes long-term storage and dissemination. 

(PDF of NEH Guidelines)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Since 2003, NIH has required the sharing with other researchers of  the "final research data" from any project receiving NIH support. 

Their documentation outlines both the goals of research data sharing and how to deal with issues of confidentiality surrounding the information of human subjects.

(NIH Requirements and Guidelines)