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Research Data Services

Guidance, tools, and training to support faculty and students working with research data.

DMP Assistant

The DMP Assistant is a free online tool for preparing data management plans. It offers Canadian-made guidance in data stewardship and walks researchers step-by-step through key questions about data management.

The UVic Libraries has created it's own template for you to use in the DMP Assistant, with guidance tailored to our university.


Planning Topics

  1. Data Collection: The type and volume of data you will collect, the file formats and software you will use.
     
  2. Data Documentation: How will you describe and structure the data to make it 'independently understandable'? Describe any standard terminology, directory and file naming conventions used.
     
  3. Storage and Backup: Strategies and solutions for keeping your data secure, such as following the 3:2:1 Rule (3 copies in 2 different formats, with at least 1 copy in an off-site location). How much storage will the project require, and how will researchers securely access and work with the data.
     
  4. Preservation: Where will the data be deposited for long-term preservation and access (for example, UVic Dataverse).
     
  5. Sharing & Re-Use: What data will you share, and in what form. How will you notify others that your data exists?
     
  6. Responsibilities & Resources: Who will be responsible for the management of the data, and how will those responsibilities be delegated. Do you have sufficient funding and resources to implement your plan, ensuring secure and effective use of your data.
     
  7. Ethics and Legal Compliance: How will you protect sensitive data, if applicable? What strategies do you have for the secondary use of sensitive data, if applicable.


Example DMPs


Additional Resources

DMPs are written plans which clearly articulates the strategies and tools you will implement to effectively manage your research data. They are considered essential to research data management (RDM), and are now requirements for applications for Tri-Agency funded research. The Tri-Agencies endorse use of the DMP Assistant to create DMPs. 


Creative Commons License
This work by The University of Victoria Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License unless otherwise indicated when material has been used from other sources.