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University of Minnesota

Kathryn A. Martin Library

Research Data Management (RDM)

Research Data Management Plans are a necessary component to the modern research. More and more, funding agencies are calling upon researchers and scholars to not only free share their findings, but also ensure that their data is easy accessible and available for future generations. This guide will provide guidance on the major components and steps of developing a well-documented data management plan.

This LibGuide has been made possible through the adaptation of the work of:

Johnston, Lisa R., Jeffryes, Jon. (2015). Data Management Workshop Series, Winter 2015. University of Minnesota Libraries. http://z.umn.edu/datamgmt15. via (CC BY-NC 4.0)

RDM - Data Management Plan Template

As a place to start, we've included a blank data management plan for your personal use.

Example of a Data Management Plan

Commonly Used Terms for Research Data Methods

  • CHECKSUM - (or hash sum) is a small-size datum from a block of digital data for the purpose of detecting errors which may have been introduced during its transmission or storage. It is usually applied to an installation file after it is received from the download server
  • CSV -  file stores tabular data (numbers and text) in plain text. Plain text means that the file is interpreted a sequence of characters, so that it is human-readable with a standard text editor. Each line of the file is a data record.
  • Data Management Plan (DMP) -   is a formal document that outlines how you will handle your data both during your research, and after the project is completed
  • Digital Repository  -   is a special library with a focused collection of digital objects that can include text, visual material, audio material, video material, stored as electronic media formats (as opposed to print, microform, or other media), along with means for organizing, storing, and retrieving the files and media contained in the library collection. 
  • DOI - is a digital object identifier (DOI) is a character string (a "digital identifier") used to uniquely identify a digital object, such as an electronic document.
  • ​FERPA -  "FERPA requires that federally funded institutions, under programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education, comply with certain procedures with regard to disclosing and maintaining educational records." - defined by National Association of Colleges and Employers
  • IP (Intellectual Property)  Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.    - defined by the World Intellectual Property Organization
  • HIPPAA - "The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for individually identifiable health information held by covered entities and their business associates and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information. At the same time, the Privacy Rule is balanced so that it permits the disclosure of health information needed for patient care and other important purposes."  - defined by the Department of Health & Human Services 
  • METADATA - is "data about data".... Metadata also helps organize electronic resources, provide digital identification, and helps support archiving and preservation of the resource.

Unless noted otherwise, definitions and links retrieved from Wikipedia.org on 7/8/2015.