supporting researchers with dmps
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given to librarians at Loughborough University considering how they could support researchers to meet DMP requirements.TRANSCRIPT
+
What are DMPs? Why are they important?What do funders require?
+What is a Data Management Plan?
A brief plan written at the start of a project to define:
What data will be collected or created?
How the data will be documented and described?
Where the data will be stored?
Who will be responsible for data security and backup?
Which data will be shared and/or preserved?
How the data will be shared and with whom?
+Why develop a DMP?
DMPs are often submitted with grant applications, but are useful whenever researchers are creating data.
They can help researchers to:
Make informed decisions to anticipate and avoid problems
Avoid duplication, data loss and security breaches
Develop procedures early on for consistency
Ensure data are accurate, complete, reliable and secure
Save time and effort to make their lives easier!
+Which funders require a DMP?
www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/policy-and-legal/ overview-funders-data-policies
n.b. EPSRC does not require DMPs in grant applications but encourages them
+What do research funders want?
A brief plan submitted in grant applications, and in the case of NERC, a more detailed plan once funded
1-3 sides of A4 as attachment or a section in Je-S form
Typically a prose statement covering suggested themes
An outline of data management and sharing plans, justifying decisions and any limitations
+Five common themes / questions
1. Description of data to be collected / created (i.e. content, type, format, volume...)
2. Standards / methodologies for data collection & management
3. Ethics and Intellectual Property (highlight any restrictions on data sharing e.g. embargoes, confidentiality)
4. Plans for data sharing and access (i.e. how, when, to whom)
5. Strategy for long-term preservation
+
Guidance, tools & examples
+Follow guidance from funders e.g.
MRC audio clip on what to include in plans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukVHHKp6sck
Wellcome Trust FAQ
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/About-us/Policy/Spotlight-issues/Data-sharing/Guidance-for-researchers/index.htm
ESRC guidance for peer-reviewers http://www.esrc.ac.uk/_images/Data-Management-Plan-Guidance-for-peer-reviewers_tcm8-15569.pdf
+A useful framework to get started
Think about why the questions
are being asked
Look at examples to get an idea of what
to include
www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/content/datamanagement/dmp/framework.html
+Help from the DCC
https://dmponline.dcc.ac.uk
www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/ how-guides/develop-data-plan
+How DMPonline works
Create a plan
based on relevant funder /
institutional templates...
...and then answer the questions using the guidance provided
+Example plans
Technical plan submitted to AHRC by Bristol Unihttp://data.bris.ac.uk/files/2013/02/data.bris-AHRC-Technical-Plan-v21.pdf
Rural Economy & Land Use (RELU) programme exampleshttp://relu.data-archive.ac.uk/data-sharing/planning/examples
UCSD example DMPs (20+ scientific plans for NSF)http://rci.ucsd.edu/dmp/examples.html
My DMP – a satire (what not to write!) http://ivory.idyll.org/blog/data-management.html
+Data creation examples
Raw data is stored either as Excel spreadsheet files or as MATLAB data files. In each case, column headers (for Excel) or README files (for MATLAB) provide a mechanism for understanding the data. A digital log of experimental details also provide a link to corresponding image files as well as a brief description of experimental conditions, providing context for data collection. [1]
The directory structure will be custom, not self-explanatory, and in no way documented or described. Students working with the data will be encouraged to make their own copies and modify them as they please, in order to ensure that no one can ever figure out what the actual real raw data is. [2]
[1] Engineering DMP Example by Sameer Shah from UCSD
[2] My DMP – a satire, by C. Titus Brown
+Storage and backup examples
Bristol’s Research Data Storage Facility (RDSF) will be used to store the data during the project. Recordings made in the field will be copied to the RDSF via a secure web connection, by the PI, as soon as possible, but some delays are expected due to Sri Lankan facilities. Therefore an external, portable hard drive (and an identical copy, for redundancy purpose) will be used for backup in the field. [1]
I will store all data on at least one, and possibly up to 50, hard drives in my lab. Backups will rarely, if ever, be done. [2]
[1] Example AHRC Technical Plan, University of Bristol
[2] My DMP – a satire, by C. Titus Brown
+Data sharing examples
Access to these materials are available either free or at low costs when those interested in the materials sign a Memorandum of Understanding stating; 1) they are a non-profit or research organization 2) they will not use the materials in paid consultancy nor charge others for use of the materials 3) they will reference the materials in any publications or presentations 4) they will not change the materials without our permission. [1]
When required to make the data available by my program manager, my collaborators, and ultimately by law, I will grudgingly do so by placing the raw data on an FTP site, named with UUIDs like 4e283d36-61c4-11df-9a26-edddf420622d. I will under no circumstances make any attempt to provide analysis source code, documentation for formats, or any metadata with the raw data. [2]
[1] Engineering DMP Example by John Fontanesi from UCSD
[2] My DMP – a satire, by C. Titus Brown
+Restrictions on sharing
The data will be deposited with [repository] but not disseminated for one year to give the investigators time to publish their findings. [1]
Any design notes on the data analysis are in our private e-mail, and we will fight to the death - up to and including ignoring FOI requests - to prevent you from obtaining them. [2]
[1] ICPSR Framework for Creating a Data Management Plan
[2] My DMP – a satire, by C. Titus Brown
+
Supporting researchers to write DMPs
+Basic guidance and support
Most university policies include a requirement for DMPs so you need to explain what to cover in plans via:
Templates listing themes/questions to cover
Custom guidance by uni or discipline
Example answers or boilerplate text
Links to local contacts and support
A library of successful DMPs to reuse
+More in-depth support
Online tools
Training courses
Consultancy services
+You can customise DMPonline
Select desired questions
Add your logo, colours, URL…
Profile local support
www.dcc.ac.uk/blog/tailoring-dmp-online-for-your-institution
+Embed flags / alerts in grant system
www2.le.ac.uk/offices/itservices/about/news/old-news/2010/July/lucre-08-07-10
+Tips to share on writing DMPs
Keep it simple, short and specific
Seek advice - consult and collaborate
Base plans on available skills and support
Make sure implementation is feasible
Justify any resources or restrictions needed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OJtiA53-Fk
+
Thanks – any questions?
DCC guidance, tools and case studies:
www.dcc.ac.uk/resources
Follow us on twitter:
@digitalcuration and #ukdcc