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Data Management Plans (DMP)

Choosing a Repository

According to the TriCouncil "all grant recipients are required to deposit into a digital repository all digital research data, metadata and code that directly support the research conclusions in journal publications and pre-prints that arise from agency-supported research." A data repository is a reliable storage location for research data. Repositories allow researchers to organize, access, share, archive, and discover data. Most repositories provide a permanent link to data and a sustainability plan for data preservation. 

When choosing a repository consider:

  • the cost
  • accepted dataset size 
  • restrictions for sharing or access controls (who can access the data, how can you allow access, country restrictions)
  • the time frame for preservation of data
  • specific requirements for metadata and file formatting
  • security infrastructure
  • overall transparency  

CoreTrustSeal repositories have been evaluated to meet a level of sustainability and trustworthiness. Certification can indicate quality; however, because most are not certified, other repositories should not be discounted on certification alone.  

Subject Specific Repositories

Repositories may be subject specific or for general storage. The University of Ottawa provides a short guide to major repositories, Springer Nature's Scientific Data lists repositories for various fields of science, and DataOne (Data Observation Network for Earth) connects to a network of repositories for earth and environmental data. DataCite's Repository Finder tool can help focus searches to find an appropriate repository and the re3data repository search tool can be used to search by discipline.

A few subject specific repositories include: 

Social Sciences

  • The Qualitative Data Repository is for social science data collected through qualitative and multi-method research, with a primary focus of political science 
  • PsychArchives is a disciplinary repository for psychological science

Health Sciences

  • Synapse a research platform that offers cloud storage 
  • NIMI (National Institute of Mental Health Archive: NDA) deidentified human subject data

Physical Sciences

  • PANGAEA (Data Publisher for Earth and Environmental Science) is a free and open access earth and life science focused repository 
  • EDI (Environmental Data Initiatives) environmental and ecological data from publicly funded research

Humanities