A Research Data Management Plan (RDMP) plays a crucial role in any research project/activity, as it assists in identifying the project's data management requirements and how to plan for them effectively. Planning and implementing good data management is good research practice, and is also required by the UWA Research Integrity Policy, funders of research, publishers and the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct for Research.
Developing a Research Data Management Plan before you commence your research project helps you to consider, document and establish:
- Metadata standards which will be used for data formats.
- Classification and sensitivity of your research data.
- Storage and backup procedures and provisions.
- Future access to the research data for sharing and/or reuse.
- Retention and disposal procedures and provisions.
- Ownership and protection of intellectual property.
- Documentation describing all of the above.
Your RDMP is a living document that can be edited and updated throughout your project’s lifecycle.