The plan should explain exactly what type(s) of data it covers. This ranges from general information about the nature of the data to specific details such as the individual file formats being used. This section of the plan, although basic, is important for understanding other decisions which have been made in the rest of the document.

Researchers should describe the sources of the data and how it was collected, for example was this information the researcher collected themselves or did they obtain it from a third party source? If it is third party data then the plan may need to outline any issues with copyright such as permissions.

DMPs should explain who will be analysing the data and how they will be doing this. This may be the individual researcher, a named person within a larger team or the work may be outsourced to an expert. It is important to record how the data were recorded in case there are any concerns around the analysis in the future.

Every research project needs a plan for how the data are going to be organised both during and after the lifetime of a project. This section should contain information on the organisation of both physical and digital data, any file naming conventions used and why particular methods were selected.

As with data organisation, the plan should clearly describe how data will be stored for the entire lifetime of the project. This includes information on the method of backup selected, the amount of information to be stored, where this will be kept and how often it will be maintained.

In addition to the input methods discussed above, someone within each research project needs to take overall responsibility for the data and how they are managed. Although this is typically the Principal Investigator or researcher in charge there are many reasons why another designated individual might take responsibility. This decision needs to made early in the project and the individual needs to be aware that they have this responsibility. This will help that adequate procedures are put in place and maintained for the life of the project.

The ethics of any project should be considered as a priority but researchers need to think carefully about any personal or sensitive data they may use in their work. A DMP will need to include specific detail on how this will be managed, any restrictions placed on its use and how they plan to make it available to others. The definition of sensitive data varies from country to country so researchers should make sure that they check local practices.

Many research funders mandate that the data produced by projects they fund should be made widely available, both as a way to perform quality checks and as an aid to other researchers who might find that data useful. Data needs to be prepared for sharing by adding adequate metadata to ensure that the maximum number of people can find it. Researchers also need to consider how they will share the data with collaborators and supervisors during the project and any potential restrictions which could impact these plans.

Good data management planning extends beyond the life of a project and researchers should think carefully about how their data is preserved in the long-term. This includes selecting an appropriate repository which meets the set criteria for preservation and the DMP may include a justification for this choice. Researchers should also think about using accessible file formats which can widen access and ensure that the data is not lost should proprietary software cease to exist.