Data Management

Definition of "data." The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (1999) defines research data as "the recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings." 

The basic level of digital data to be archived and available includes:

1. analyzed data, which include digital information that would be published such as digital images, published tables, and tables of the numbers used to make published graphs; and,
2. metadata that define how these data were generated, such as descriptions or suitble citations of experiments, apparatuses, raw materials, computational codes, and computer-calulation input conditions.

Not included in the basic level per the 1999 OMB statement are "preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer reviews, or communications with colleagues."  Raw data fall into "preliminary analyses."

A Data Management Plan is a document that describes what data will be created, what policies apply to the data, who will own and access the data, what data management practices will be used, what facilities and equipment will be required, and who will be responsible for each of these activities.  As a result, it will contain:

• the name of the person(s) responsible for data management within your research project;
• the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project;
• the standards to be used for data and metadata format and content (where existing standards are absent or deemed inadequate, this should be documented along with any proposed solutions or remedies);
• policies for access and sharing, including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements;
• polices and provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives;
• plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products, and for preservation of access to them; and,
• period of data retention.

National Science Foundation

As of January 18, 2011, the National Science Foundation requires all proposals to include a supplementary document of no more than two pages labeled "Data Management Plan" that describes how the proposal will conform to NSF policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results. A proposal without a Data Management Plan will not be allowed to be submitted.  Plese note that a valid NSF Data Management Plan may include only the statement that no detailed plan is needed, if accompanied by a clear justification.

For the complete NSF policy, see Dissemination and Sharing of Research Results. For more information, see NSF Data Management and Sharing FAQs.