eScience in Action

Examination of Federal Data Management Plan Guidelines

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Abstract

Data management plans as expectations of the grant proposal process are still fairly novel, and the expected format and content of these plans is still evolving. The objective of this research is to gain a greater understanding of the expected content for data management plans submitted as part of grant proposals to federal funding agencies. This paper examines federal funding agencies’ data management plan guidelines in relation to the broad elements of data management identified by the Interagency Working Group on Digital Data: Description, Impact, Content & Format, Protection, Preservation, Access, and Transfer of Responsibility. Specifically, statements in agencies’ guidelines were categorized into the most applicable category (or categories). The representation of each category within each agency’s guidelines was addressed, and the statements falling in each category were analyzed. Some categories, including Access and Preservation, were represented in all or nearly all of the guidelines examined. Other categories — Impact and Transfer of Responsibility — were rarely addressed. The expectations for data management plans are evolving and will likely continue to evolve as more agencies require them.

Keywords: federally funded research, data management plans, research data

How to Cite:

Thoegersen, J. L., (2015) “Examination of Federal Data Management Plan Guidelines”, Journal of eScience Librarianship 4(1): 1. doi: https://doi.org/10.7191/jeslib.2015.1072

Rights: Copyright © 2015 The Author(s).