Manage Funder and Institutional Requirements
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Data Management and Sharing Plans
If you have been using the OSF as a storage place for a Data Management (and Sharing) Plan (DMP or DMSP), there are alternative, dedicated solutions. We recommend that you contact your institutional librarian (if you have one). It is possible that your institution has access to tools that enable you to share your DMSP. Any public OSF projects that you used to share a DMSP will be maintained and remain accessible, and COS recommends that you do not make additional copies of this content. If you do decide to move your content to an alternative DMSP platform, consult with any additional contributors to ensure that unintentional duplicate copies are not being shared.
The following sites allow for depositing DMPS and provide DOIs for them for easy linking:
- DMPOnline (UK/EU+)
- DMPTool (US+)
- DMPTool tutorial (from Arizona State University)
Additionally, some repositories — like Zenodo — accept Data Management and Sharing Plans.
Research Ethics
Managing your institutional and funder requirements related to your study data and materials
You may have shared research study materials in OSF Projects that are referenced in an ethics review approval, funding agreement, or other study documentation. COS cannot advise you on whether those documents need to be changed. Requirements are specific to your study, institution, ethics review board, or funder. Contact the relevant office to determine whether any updates are required.
Participant materials
- My recruitment materials link to the OSF. Do I need to update them?
- OSF links will continue to work after projects become read-only. Contact your ethics review board or institution to determine whether your recruitment materials or study documentation need to be updated.
- Participants download study materials from the OSF. How do I replace those links?
- If the material is public and will not be changing, you can continue to use the OSF as you were before.
- If you move the materials to another location, replace the OSF links wherever they appear or request a URL redirect. Contact your ethics review board or institution to determine whether changing those links requires any additional action.
Research data
- Where should I store my IRB-approved research data instead?
- If the data is public and will not be changing after February 18, 2027, you can continue to use the OSF as you were before.
- Other repositories and storage options are available if you wish to move your data, but COS cannot determine which location meets the requirements for your study. Contact your ethics review board or institution before moving the data, particularly if it must remain private. Because private OSF Projects may be removed in the future with advance notice, you may need time to identify another location that meets your requirements.
Data management plans and funder requirements
- My grant, data management plan, or ethics documentation says I will use OSF to store or share study data or materials. Do I need to update it?
- OSF Projects will become read-only on February 19, 2027. If your documentation assumes that you will continue adding, updating, or managing materials in OSF projects after that date, you may need to identify another location. Contact the relevant funder, ethics review board, or institutional office to determine whether your documentation must be updated.
This Article Is Licensed Under CCO For Maximum Reuse.