Data Management

When referring to research data management, we are referring to RSCA activities at SJSU. 

“Data management, as it relates to data created during the research process, comprises ‘what to manage’ and ‘how to manage it.’ It is not only data per se that need to be managed; accompanying information, such as documentation and other contextual and methodological information, also needs to be managed.”

​Corti, L. (2008). Data Management. In: The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. (pp. 194-195). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

There are a number of short-term and long-term benefits to good data management practices. Data management helps to:

1. Clarify workflows for your research team
2. Improve the discoverability of and access to data among the larger academic community
3. Encourage federal grant compliance

Data management and sharing plans are often required by grant funding agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) or National Institute of Health (NIH), and are ~2-page documents submitted as part of a grant application process. 

• NSF (each directorate has its own plan)
• NIH
• US Department of Agriculture
• US Department of Defense
• US Department of Education
• US Department of Energy
• US Department of Transportation
• NASA
• NOAA
• Institute of Museum and Library Services
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• United States Geological Survey
• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
• Plus many, many more

The components of a DMP or DMSP may vary depending on the funding agency. Always check the funding announcement for specific instructions on how your plan should be structured within your proposal and the level of detail required.