Research Data Management Plans

Research funding bodies typically require a DMP as part of your proposal. Although specific requirements may vary. Beyond being a funder requirement, a DMP is a valuable tool for organising your project and maintaining focus. Funders might ask specific questions about your data management and sharing strategies. 

1. Data creation

Describe the types of data you will generate. 

2. Confidentiality

Outline how you will manage data to comply with confidentiality agreements. Some data will need to be treated with care, particularly personal or sensitive information.  Even if you plan to anonymise data, you will need to obtain informed consent from participants. You should consider: 

• Asking live participants for informed consent to use and share data 
• Anonymisation for interviews, testimonies and qualitative data 
• Data aggregation for quantitative data 
• Use of pseudonyms 
• Editing of video and sound footage, and still images 
  
  

For more on ethical data collection, storage and use visit Research ethics and governance.

3. Storage

Explain how data will be stored during the research. Visit Research data storage to learn how to safely store and share your research data using LJMU facilities.   

4. Ownership and Access

Specify who will own the data and who can access it. 

5. Preservation and Reuse

Detail how the data will be preserved and made available for future use. LJMU Research Data Repository serves as the University's institutional repository, offering a secure platform for researchers to deposit and store their research data on an Open Access basis.  By storing data in the LJMU Research Data Repository, it can be freely accessed online by anyone and easily discovered through web search engines. Data deposited to LJMU Research Data Repository will be issued with a DOI (Digital Object Identifier).

6. Responsibility

Assign responsibility for each aspect of the plan. 

We recommend using DMP Online, a free tool compatible with major UK research funders' requirements. Many funders also provide their own guidelines on their websites. DMP Online also offers access to publicly available data plans created by other users. We hold training sessions on using DMP Online throughout the year.

Contact the Researcher Engagement Team who can help you draft your data management plan and provide feedback.

For information on intellectual property and commercially exploitable data, contact the Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation team.

There is a wealth of expertise within LJMU on related matters such as:

• Freedom of Information
• GDPR