Data Management Toolkit

Data Collection

Data collection can be a good introduction to a DMP. In this portion, the nature of the research project and data are described. The following information should be included:

• Description of project and its purpose
• Whether the project will produce data or use existing data
• What types of data will be collected and what that data describes
• How the data will be collected
• An estimate of the amount of data that will be collected

When writing this portion, ask yourself:

What types of data will be collected?

Knowing the type of data you are collecting will help inform later decisions on how the data should be organized and archived.

Example data types: Experimental, image, instrument-generated, modeling, numerical, observational, spatial, temporal, text sequences, etc.

How will the data be collected?

Example collection methods: Image analysis, interviews, models, observations, sensors, surveys, etc.