Well begun is half done!
You should have a clear idea from the start about what kind of research data is included in your research, how you will collect it and how you should – and are allowed to! – use it.
● Planning phase. How will you collect data, what kind of data will you have, and how much?
● Data protection and personal data. Will you collect data that includes personal or confidential information? If so, how will you handle it in a legal and ethical manner?
● Permits and user rights. You need permission to collect, use, store and publish your data. Remember to check whether you need, for example, a research permit, or informed consent. Copyright also affects how material can be used. In projects with external parties, other types of agreements and contracts may also exist.
● And then? What happens to your data when your thesis is finished? Should it be destroyed or saved so that someone else can use it?
You need to be aware of and plan for all these aspects in advance. If your supervisor has asked you to write a data management plan, this is where you document all of this.