I need to apply for ethics approval - am I still required to complete a RDMP?

Yes. A RDMP is a separate process to the ethics application/approval process and is required for all research projects with a research output i.e. thesis or publication.

A RDMP is part of the Pre Project Phase and gets the researcher to think about and plan for their data from the beginning of their project. An ethics application is only required for research projects that involve animals or humans.

As the RDMP is required to be completed at the start of the research project, it is completed before the ethics application.