If you are working on a thesis you will want to do everything you can to look after the data and files you are producing. A good way to do this is to write a data management plan.
What’s a data management plan?
A data management plan is a document than only you can write that takes you through a series of questions and records the answers. It asks you to make decisions about:
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- what data you will create?
- where you will keep it during your thesis?
- how you will organise your data?
- how you will keep it safe?
- what data you will keep after your project
- where you will keep it?
- what data you will share and how?
How do I know what to write?
First have a look at our overview on research data management. Then use our step by step guidance to help you write your plan.
Download one of our templates
You can use one of our University of Kent templates if you wish. Choose one for a funder that relates most closely to your research area. For example, choose Economic and Social Research Council if you are researching a social science topic and Arts and Humanities Research Council if you are working in humanities disciplines.
You can then email your draft data management plan to the research support team in the library researchsupport@kent.ac.uk for further help and advice if you would like it.
Get ahead
If you get used to doing a data management plan now at this stage in your academic career, you will be one step ahead and well prepared for a future in research. All the major funders now require applicants for research funding to complete a data management plan.
Help and guidance
Email researchsupport@kent.ac.uk